ABSTRACT
When infants begin to reach for objects, their world changes in substantial ways. Simply put, they make their entry into the world of physical agency. Prior to this time, they could watch others’ actions and be the recipient of those actions but could not produce deliberate actions to obtain objects themselves. This transition produces an infant who is much more in control of his or her exploration of and learning about the physical world. Because of the major changes it brings about, independent reaching is probably the most consequential motor transition infants make early in life, especially with regard to learning.
