How many times does a baby have to drop something before it begins to understand the law of gravity. I am watching my granddaughter as she plays with the various “toys” we have given her. Right now her favorites are some measuring cups and spoons. They are easy to grab and great for chewing. I know that doesn’t make your day but watching her wave them around and pound on things is one of those great moments in life for an old man.
She looks so puzzled when she lets go and they fall to the ground. You may have experienced the infant in a high chair that repeatedly drops something over the side and looks down wondering where it went. You pick it up and return it and moments later it hits the ground again. After a while it becomes a game and what is learned is manipulation of adults not the pull of gravity. We try to draw a line between accidentally dropping and deliberately letting go. Even a baby needs to learn cause and effect. Even more important they need to learn that other animate objects are not there to fetch for them.
It is cute now. It will not be cute when she gets to college age. She has a lot of learning to do. After gravity will come picking up sox and making a bed.
homo unius libri
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