For your child, the sole purpose of play is to have fun. While her play might appear messy, silly, noisy, or repetitive, you understand that she is engaged in significant learning. Play serves as her method to experiment with possibilities and navigate and understand her world.
There isn't a definitive "correct" way to play. Any form of play provides your child with an opportunity to acquire new skills.
How Play Supports Your Child's Development?
👉 Social
✰ Playing with your child fosters a strong attachment between the two of you.
✰ Engaging in play with others teaches your child cooperation, sharing, empathy, and the importance of helping.
✰ Choosing a social engaging toy for a toddler is a great way to support their development and encourage social interaction like Duplo or Mega Blocs, Play Kitchen Set, Dollhouse, Interactive Board Games, Musical Instruments, Storytime Puppets
👉 Emotional
✰ Expressing herself through play enhances your child’s sense of self-worth.
✰ When your child expresses herself, it aids in her understanding and learning to control her feelings.
✰ Emotional engagement is crucial for a toddler's development, and there are various toys designed to foster emotional connections and well-being. Here are some suggestions like Baby Dolls, Soft Plush Toys, Emotion-themed Books, Feeling Faces Flashcards, Worry Dolls or Calming Jars, Sensory Play Kits.
👉 Physical
✰ Exploring with her body enables your child to enhance both her large and small muscle strength.
✰ As she repeats actions, your child gains hand-eye coordination and develops other skills that prepare
her for later learning.
👉 Cognitive
✰ Engaging in pretend play assists your child in understanding and making sense of her everyday experiences.
✰ Engaging in play enhances your child’s persistence, attention span, memory, and ability to focus—skills that are crucial for success in school.
✰ Cognitive toys are essential for stimulating a toddler's brain and promoting cognitive development. Here are some suggestions for cognitive toys that can engage and challenge toddlers: Shape Sorters, Stacking Blocks or Rings, Nesting Toys, Puzzles, and Matching Games, Alphabet Blocks or Flashcards.
👉 Language
✰ The more practice she has at making sounds—even silly ones!—the better your child’s tongue and mouth can coordinate to articulate words.
✰ When she collaborates with you or another playmate, your child employs words to express her ideas.
✰ There are various language and communication development apps designed specifically for children. These apps often use interactive and engaging activities to promote language skills, vocabulary, and communication. Here are some examples: ABCmouse ,Khan Academy Kids, Toca Boca - Toca Life: World, BeeBot, Duolingo ABC, Speech Blubs: Language Therapy, Sago Mini Friends.
Play benefits your child's brain, no matter what. However, it becomes even more enriching when you actively participate. Remember to let her take the lead—when you take over, she may feel that her ideas are not valued.
💬 What You Can Do?
👉 Practice patience as your child engages in play; she might repeat things over and over, as it's how her brain forms new connections.
👉 Allowing your child to take the lead in play might seem unfamiliar, and initially, it could be challenging to join in activities she enjoys, such as silly dances, making noise, getting messy, and sitting on the floor. Embracing playfulness may require some practice!
👉 There might be instances when she doesn't want you to play with her directly. Instead, play beside her. This way, you are close by, and you can engage in conversation about what she's doing. For example, 'Wow, you built a really tall tower. I wonder what will happen to it. Are you going to knock it down?'
👉 Allow her to attempt solving problems during play and praise her efforts. This fosters confidence in her ability to overcome challenges. If she requires assistance, intervene before frustration sets in.
👉 To your child, everything in your home is a potential toy. Therefore, it's crucial for you to ensure that she plays with safe, age-appropriate toys and household items, such as blocks, balls, dolls, and books.
👉 Your child may resist when asked to stop playing and switch to another activity. Provide warnings at 5 minutes and again at 1 minute to help her prepare for the transition.
Play can occur at any time. Whether you're cooking, shopping, or giving your child a bath, you can engage in play. In fact, it's better to let her decide when she feels like playing; scheduling playtime doesn't always align well with babies and toddlers!
💁💁💁 Types of play
Have you noticed any of these while observing your child?
👉 Practice Play:
Taking pleasure in an activity to the extent of repeating it, such as pouring sand through her fingers. Practicing play with toddlers involves engaging in purposeful activities that promote their physical, cognitive, social, and emotional development. Here are some practice play ideas for toddlers like Pretend Play, Sensory Play, Art and Creativity, Outdoor Play.
👉 Constructive Play:
Constructing with blocks to form a specific structure. Constructive play for toddlers involves activities that allow them to build, create, and manipulate objects, fostering cognitive and motor skill development. Here are some constructive play ideas for toddlers: Magnetic Tiles, Building Blocks, Nesting and Stacking Toys, Shape Sorters, Cardboard Box Creations, Sand and Water Play, Recycled Materials Creations, Nature Building.
👉 Functional Play:
Utilizing an object to perform a task, such as cleaning the floor with a vacuum. Functional play for toddlers involves activities where they engage with objects and toys in a way that serves a specific purpose or function. This type of play helps toddlers develop practical and everyday life skills. Here are some examples of functional play for toddlers: Doll Care, Toy Kitchen or Cooking Play , Doctor or Vet Pretend Play, Tool Play, Grocery Store or Shopping Play, Farm or Animal Care Play.
👉 Rough and Tumble Play:
Engaging in language and physical activity. (This play should not involve aggression or harm to other children.). Rough and tumble play is a type of physical play that involves energetic, boisterous activities. While it may seem a bit rough, it's a normal and healthy form of play that helps toddlers develop physical coordination, social skills, and emotional regulation. Here are some tips for facilitating rough and tumble play for toddlers: Supervise Closely, Create a Safe Space, Encourage Turn-Taking, Engage in Playful Wrestling, Incorporate Playful Chasing, Model Gentle Behavior, Monitor Energy Levels.
👉 Dramatic Play:
Pretending to engage in an activity (such as pretending to drink juice from an empty cup) or pretending to be someone. Dramatic play, also known as imaginative or pretend play, is crucial for a toddler's development. It helps them build creativity, social skills, and problem-solving abilities. When choosing dramatic play toys for toddlers, consider options that allow them to mimic real-life scenarios and engage in role-playing activities. Here are some ideas: Dress-up Clothes, Puppets, Playhouse or Ten, Doctor Kit, Play Kitchen.
👉 Games with Rules:
Young children are beginning to grasp the concepts of cooperation and sharing. They enjoy games that involve everyone, such as Ring Around the Rosy or Duck, Duck, Goose.
Tips for Play
✿ Observe your child attentively while playing. Follow their lead, paying close attention to their expressions and movements. Mirror their expressions and movements as you engage with them.
✿ Sit on the floor and establish eye contact.
✿ Comment and discuss what your child is doing, for example, 'You're driving the train.'
✿ Minimize the use of questions and instructions.
✿ Embrace the joy and cherish this special time with your family.
Different kinds of plays
💁 Active Play
Running, biking, throwing, kicking—contributes to physical development.
💁 Creative Play
Drawing, playing with clay, singing, and making music—develops fine motor skills and nurtures imagination.
💁 Imaginative Play
Dress-up and make-believe activities promote problem-solving, language development, and foster social skill development.
💁 Nurturing Play
Engaging with dolls or stuffed animals aids in emotional development, helping kids understand their own feelings and those of others.
REMEMBER
❄ Sometimes play is very simple.
❄ At times, you may not even be aware that your child is engaged in play and learning.
❄ Watch your child closely to see if he is playing.
❄ When you observe your child playing, try to consider what he might be learning through his play.