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Fun ways to play

Why play is important

Play is the most important activity for the children under 5 years. It’s how they learn about themselves, the world around them and their place in it. Play encourages them to be flexible as they adapt to challenges they face.

Through play, your child develops their physical, learning and social skills.

How to encourage your child to play

You can:

  • turn off the television and make plenty of time for play throughout the day
  • take play outside as well as indoors.
  • leave toys out for your child to use over time if you can to allow the play scene to continue over several days
  • join in with your child at times, following their lead. Let them decide what you will do and how you’ll do it.

Playing with your child should be fun and is a great way to find out what is important to them. Remember, there’s no right or wrong way to play and there are not necessarily any results to show at the end. Your child should be able to play in their own way.

Tummy time for babies

All babies need some time playing on their tummies every day but you must supervise them. ‘Tummy time’ helps them learn about movement and develop the skills to roll over, sit and crawl. It allows babies to move about freely, unconstrained by a car seat or buggy.

Tummy time also develops their visual skills by allowing them to look at the world at eye level (rather than seeing only the ceiling).

Place your baby on their tummy from birth. It’s best to start off with a few minutes of tummy time twice a day and build up from there as they get older.  If they find this difficult, you can always begin with laying them across your legs or on your chest. Being face-to-face with your baby or placing a mirror or brightly coloured toy in front of them will also help.

You should always supervise your baby when they’re on their tummy. Always lay your baby down to sleep on their back.

Play in different positions

Experiencing a range of different body positions during play will help your child to develop their muscles and stability. Activities do not always need to be done at a table and you could try:

  • lying on their tummy, propped up on elbows
  • on all fours – elbows and knees
  • standing
  • high kneeing at a table
  • half kneeling
  • lying on one side.

Try different games, toys and experiences

Children need a range of play experiences. As well as activities that develop hand and finger coordination, they need games that let them use their big muscles and develop large movements.

It’s important that your child has toys that are suitable for their stage of development.They do not need to be expensive. Simple household items can keep a toddler amused for hours.

Do not forget to let your child play with items from nature, such as sand, water, shells and pine cones.

From the age of 2, your child will use their imagination in games.  There are lots of fun things you can do to support this and join in – let your own imagination run free!

Sensory play

Children also learn through their senses. As well as touch, taste, sight, smell and hearing, the senses also include ‘proprioception’ (body awareness) and ‘vestibular’ (balance and movement).

It’s important for your child’s development that they get lots of opportunity to experience a wide range of sensations.

‘Messy’ play is a great way to give your child lots of different sensations and it helps them to develop hand and finger coordination.

You could try:

  • playing in water or sand and making bubbles at bath time
  • hiding toys to find in sand, a box of lentils, jelly or shredded paper
  • painting and making marks with finger paints
  • helping with cooking and baking, especially mixing by hand
  • making and kneading play dough (see recipe below)
  • playing in ‘gloop’ (a mixture of corn flour and water)*.
*Gloop recipe (uncooked Play-Doh)

Ingredients:

  • 3 cups of flour
  •  1/4 cup of salt
  • 1 tablespoon of cooking oil
  • 1 cup of water
  • Food colouring (liquid is best)
  • Optional – flavouring, such as peppermint or vanilla to create a scent.

Method:

  1. Mix flour and salt together in a large bowl
  2. Add water, oil and food colouring (and flavouring if using)
  3. Mix it all together – You will have to knead it with your hands at the end
  4. If mixture is too stiff, add more water; if it is too sticky, add more flour
  5. Store dough in an airtight container.

Ideas for play

Home

Give your child play food, a dustpan and brush, tea sets, and let them play at being a home owner. Add stuffed toys, dolls, a high chair or play bath and let them role-play being a mummy or daddy.

Office

Let your child play at being at work.  Give them an old keyboard, a toy phone, pens and paper or a handbag. Give them forms from the bank or post office to fill in.

Shop

Help your child to set up their own shop. Use empty boxes or packages, canvas shopping bags, plastic cards, play money and a till or tin to collect it in.  They will love having you as their customer!

Encourage independence and give praise

As children get older they want to do more for themselves and be more independent. Encourage this by giving support and praise and give them time to try doing things for themselves.

Help your child to feel safe trying new things and reassure them it’s okay not to get it right the first time.

Give lots of praise and be specific, for example:

“Thank you for waiting quietly while I was talking on the phone.”

Try to give more praise than criticism.  Praise does not need to be in words – hugs, smiles, a wink or pat on the back can mean just as much.

Tell your children what they do well and that you’re proud of them.  Give praise for trying new things, persevering and for being helpful and friendly so that you do not always link praise to achievement.