Playing with toddlers
You’ve probably heard the saying that kids are like sponges—this is especially true for toddlers. Little ones between the ages of one and three are always absorbing new things. Their main mode for learning: Playtime. They begin by playing side-by-side (called parallel play), then progress into more interactive stuff, where they engage with and absorb information from their playmates. The right game can boost your kid’s cognitive, physical, and emotional skills, so get your toddler started with one of these games.
Source: https://www.todaysparent.com/
Playtime is special. Not only is it fun, but it is critical to children’s development. Play is their “work” and their way of learning about the world around them. Through play, babies and toddlers try out new skills, explore their imagination and creativity, and learn about relationships with other people.
Any activity can be playful to young children, whether it’s rolling trucks back and forth or sorting socks. And any type of play can offer multiple opportunities to learn and practice new skills:
As a parent, you are your child’s very first and favorite playmate. From the very beginning of your child’s life, he is playing with you, whether he is watching your face as you feed him or listening to your voice as you sing to him during his diaper change. He is at work, learning and exploring.
Source: https://www.zerotothree.org/
Social playing involves playing with other kids, whether it’s an incidental game at the park with another child they’ve just met or a pre-arranged play date between peers. It teaches social skills, like empathy, and broadens your child’s world. Toddlers find it challenging to play with others until they are around two years old so don’t expect them to share and always play nicely!
Boost your child’s development and learning by making playtime meaningful. Alex Brooks explores the different types of play and explains what you can do to make your child get the most out of it.
Source: https://www.kidspot.com.au/
