It’s not just fun – it’s fundamental to your child’s development.
Did you know that your child’s brain grows the most during the first three years of life? That’s a lot of development! The good news is that one of the most effective methods for you to promote your child’s growth is both straightforward and enjoyable for you as well as your child.
On the surface, play seems to be all about having fun, but it is much more for infants and toddlers. It’s about learning and developing vital life skills, such as problem solving and communication, while also deepening your friendship. You are, after all, your child’s first teacher and playmate! Through this blog we hope to bring to you the science behind how you can help your kid grow and develop via play.
Practicing physical skills while constructing a tower
Stacking things helps a child grasp movement and place by strengthening sensory-motor abilities and spatial cognition. This skill set is essential for maintaining a healthy, active body. Engage children by observing what they are constructing, making noises and facial expressions, and taking turns adding pieces to the construction – see how high you can go!
Developing social skills through making ridiculous noises
Babbling, facial expressions, and gestures are all natural ways for young children to seek engagement. Paying attention to children, labelling what they are doing, and reacting with your gaze, voice, and movement helps to form and reinforce neuronal connections in their brain that promote communication and social skills development. This kind of give and take also deepens parents’ relationship with their child.
Developing cognitive skills when playing hide-and-seek with things
Working on a difficult (but enjoyable!) exercise like concealing and discovering household items teaches children attention, problem solving, and flexible thinking. They are learning to handle difficult activities and devise efficient techniques for overcoming barriers. If the child becomes irritated at any time, provide suggestions but let them figure out the answer on their own.
Develop emotional abilities through singing and dancing
Understanding, controlling, and expressing emotions via self-awareness and impulse control is critical to your child’s emotional development and long-term well-being. Singing and dancing are excellent ways to express and release emotions! Make it a bonding experience by singing or dancing along.
She is developing her creative abilities when she draws from her imagination.
When your child sits down and draws her own world on paper, she is expressing and transforming her ideas into reality. When she’s finished, have her walk you through her world and ask you questions about what you see.
The good news is that expensive toys are not required for children to play and learn. In reality, you most likely have everything you need at home to make a fun and interesting game with your infant.
