THE IMPORTANCE OF PLAY

Play helps babies and toddlers learn new skills, gain knowledge, explore their abilities and develop in many ways. During this age group, they're undergoing heaps of growth and development and playing can aid this significantly. In fact, engaging your baby or toddler in age appropriate play can do wonders for their early childhood education and learning ability and give them a good foundation for future learning.

Baby Play Ideas:

• Babies love songs, especially with repetitive words,
• Books are great for children and getting them into books from a young age is beneficial. Books for babies are often brightly coloured, have touch-and-feel aspects or may be interactive. You can read them stories and engage their attention with the colour and pictures.
• Hand and finger puppets are lots of fun and you can create your own stories to entertain your baby. Use funny voices or accents for an extra degree of entertainment!
• Rattles and other toys that make noises are lots of fun for babies.
• Baby play mats, which have rattles, scrunchy noises or other playful aspects included help gain a baby's attention. 

Toddler Play Ideas: 

• Making towers of building blocks is great fun, but develops key skills too. Children will probably love the part where they get to knock things down too!
• Many toddlers love dressing up boxes and acting out play themes.
• Drawing, colouring and other art and craft activities are loved by many toddlers, plus it can help their fine motor skills.
• Playing with a ball - either playing catch or kicking it around.
• Walking and running around outside or playing in a children's playground.
• For some outdoor activities, older toddlers can help in the garden, by watering plants or planting seeds.
• Singing songs is loved by toddlers too and adding actions adds an extra element. 

The above are some notes from a 'Positive Parenting' course.