What the report covers

The report treats the first two years as the fastest-changing stretch of life and asks a practical question: what should an adult offer a baby at each point?

It opens with learning ability. Newborn reflexes make classical conditioning possible. The paper's example: a parent strokes the baby's forehead before every feeding, and soon the stroke alone starts the sucking response.

It then explains operant conditioning, where the consequence of a behavior changes how often it happens.

The motor section follows the usual sequence: swiping at objects, an ulnar grasp, passing a toy hand to hand, and finally the pincer grasp. The author's point is that adults should respond quickly and let the child try, rather than doing the task for them.

How this lines up with US early childhood standards

If you are writing for a US child development or early childhood course, connect the report to the frameworks your instructor expects.

• NAEYC Developmentally Appropriate Practice (2020 position statement): activities should fit what is known about the age, the individual child, and the family's culture. The report's stage-by-stage selection idea is the "age" part of that.
• Head Start Early Learning Outcomes Framework (2015): covers birth to five and separates infant/toddler goals from preschool goals. Its perceptual, motor, and physical development domain is a good place to cite the grasp sequence.
• CDC "Learn the Signs. Act Early." milestones: updated in 2022, they list skills most children show by each checkup age. Use them when you describe what is typical.

A classroom example

In an infant room, the conditioning idea shows up in routines. A caregiver who sings the same short song before every diaper change gives the baby a cue that a familiar, safe event is coming.

The motor idea shows up in the environment: low shelves, safe objects of different sizes, and floor time. An adult who hands every toy straight to the baby removes the reaching practice the report says matters.

File details

A 3-page HWP file in Korean. The report draws on Korean lifespan development textbooks, so pair it with the US sources below when you cite.

FAQ

Can a newborn really be conditioned?

Yes. Reflexes such as sucking give a built-in response that a new cue can be paired with.

Which comes first, palmar or pincer grasp?

Whole-hand grasping comes first. The pincer grasp, using thumb and index finger, usually appears near the end of the first year.

Is "age-appropriate" the same as DAP?

Not quite. DAP also asks you to adjust for the individual child and family context.

References

1. NAEYC. (2020). Developmentally Appropriate Practice [Position statement]. https://www.naeyc.org/resources/position-statements/dap
2. Office of Head Start. (2015). Head Start Early Learning Outcomes Framework: Ages Birth to Five. https://headstart.gov
3. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Learn the Signs. Act Early. Milestones. https://www.cdc.gov/act-early/

Last updated: November 13, 2026

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