the importance of mobiles

Newborn babies do not yet have the muscle control that will become available over time. The neurons in a newly born body need a fatty protection called myelin in order to send the electrical impulses from the brain to the muscles, which enables the limbs and muscles to move. As the child’s neurons gain myelin, they will gain movement throughout their body, however, this does take time. With this in mind we need to consider what we can do for the child in their earliest moments of life in the home.One thing we can do is provide sensory information for the child to take in, one example being the provision of mobiles for them to watch and interact with.

The first mobiles we may introduce will be for the development of the child’s eye muscles and vision. These should be light, and could move with the air currents in the room. Examples of this type of mobile could be the stylized paper dancers or Munari mobiles sometimes found in a Montessori environment, or others that have reality-based figures that usually are suspended in air.

Another type of mobile that could be included for visual stimulation is the Gobbi mobile, which does not move in the air current, but instead shows the child a spectrum of color. In this mobile, the spheres are suspended in air and are graded in height and color, with the lightest and highest sphere being located on the left hand side.Once the child has developed their movements more and are beginning to reach and touch the mobiles, more tactile ones should be introduced. This can include a bell on a ribbon, or more hardy wooden figures that can be tugged or touched without breaking the materials.

Mobiles are a beautiful addition to the child’s environment that create sensory information for them in a variety of ways. The child’s eye muscles develop first, followed later by the muscle control of their hands, arms and legs. This corresponds with myelin covering the neurons throughout their body. Having mobiles in the child’s environment assists in their muscular development and encourages the child to move their body to gain more sensory information.  When we provide mobiles for the child, we not only beautify their environment but enhance their sensory experiences and prepare them better for their development of movement.

By Úna Shea, 0-3 Montessori guide