How is a baby's early repertoire of responses exercised?

• A. At random
• B. Through constant instruction
• C. Only during playdates
• D. By genetics

Answer: (A)

The big idea here is that babies build their first set of responses through spontaneous exploration and trying things out in different situations. As infants move, reach, make sounds, and interact with caregivers and objects, they experiment with what actions produce certain responses. Each attempt gives them feedback, helping them refine what works in a given moment. This kind of self-driven practice—driven by curiosity and varied experiences—happens across everyday life, not through a constant, explicit curriculum. Caregivers can guide and reinforce, but the core growth comes from the baby's own exploration. Genetics sets potential, but it’s the repeated, varied experiences that exercise the repertoire. So this is best described as developing through random, exploratory practice.