It's All In The Glove

The learning curve for infants may be enhanced by—of all things—Velcro. Researchers at Duke University, led by Amy Needham, Ph.D., an associate professor of psychology, have found that giving 3 month-old babies Velcro-covered mittens and toys helps to increase their motor skill development.

By being able to pick up objects with their mitted hands, infants are more likely to explore a wider variety of items than their bare-handed counterparts. This interaction with more objects appears to activate the beginning stages of mental classification at an earlier age.

While no research has been done yet to determine whether the effects last over the long run, interest is strong enough that Needham is considering marketing the gloves to the public. Her findings were published this month in the journal Infant Behavior and Development.