At eight months of age, infants can be observed doing what?

At eight months of age, infants typically exhibit a range of social and cognitive skills that allow them to engage more interactively with their environment and caregivers. This age marks a pivotal stage in development where infants begin to explore their surroundings through play. They often enjoy playing in partnership with peers, which indicates budding social skills. Mouthing toys is a natural exploratory behavior for infants at this age, allowing them to learn about different textures and shapes through their senses. Sharing toys, while not yet fully developed, can start to emerge as they experience interactions with others. Additionally, naming toys can begin to occur, as infants are exposed to language and start to associate words with objects around them.

This understanding of an infant's capabilities at eight months highlights the importance of providing rich, interactive play experiences that stimulate both social engagement and cognitive development, which are critical aspects of early childhood learning.