Learning
through play
from birth to three
the healthy development of
babies and toddlers
rom day one, children are eager and determined to understand
how the world works. They do this through play,
using all the “tools” they have at their disposal.
Watch your child at play, and you will see the kind of concentration,
passion, and creative excitement that artists and scientists
bring to their projects.
An 8-week-old learns about communication and the joy of
close relationships as he smiles, coos, and gurgles when his
dad talks with him. A 15-month-old uses her body and mind
to learn about up and down, high and low, and how strong
and competent she is on a trip with grandma to the playground.
A 3-year-old playing pretend develops her own ideas,
uses her imagination, and builds friendships.
Playing with your child is not only fun, it’s one of the most
important ways you can nurture her development. There are no
rules when it comes to play. And you don't need fancy toys. In
fact, you are your child’s favorite toy.
Every child is unique. Your child may have special skills or special
needs. Follow your child’s lead. She’ll let you know what
interests her. When she sees the pleasure and delight you take
in her discoveries, she'll want to play more and more. Play will
benefit you, too. Being spontaneous and having fun can relieve
stress and create positive memories for both you and your child.
And when your child is engaged and having fun, she is learning.
Play is truly the work of childhood.
You are your child’s favorite toy. You are your child’s favorite toy.
What You Can Do:
Safety First
.
Remember, your little explorer will need you to keep his play areas safe. Make sure
toys don’t have parts that fit all the way in his mouth. Get down on his level to see
what he can reach. This is especially important as he learns to move. It will mean
far fewer “no’s,” which makes everyone happier.
Watch and Wait
.
See what your child is trying to do. Provide just enough support for him to achieve
his goal or take the next step towards a new goal. You might bring an object your
newborn is staring at closer so he can explore it with his hands. Or, you may
encourage your toddler to try a different space where the puzzle piece might fit
when he is getting frustrated.
Follow the Leader
.
.
Some children love lots of bells and whistles; others find a lot of noise overwhelming
and prefer to explore with their eyes. Some crave lots of movement, rolling,
crawling, or jumping. Others are most interested in using their hands to figure out
how a toy or object works. Follow her lead, and you’ll discover what kinds of
activities are right for her.
Young Explorers
Birth to 12 months
P
laying with your baby begins by engaging all of his senses. His
eyes, ears, nose, hands, and mouth are his tools. As he grows,
he learns to use his body to make discoveries. He begins to
reach and grasp (watch out for long hair and dangling earrings!),
which allows him to explore toys in new ways. By the
time he’s 9 months, he will understand cause and effect: “I
push the button to make the music play.” He will also understand that things
he can’t see still exist. This means he’ll be looking for the ball that rolled
behind the couch and calling for you when you leave the room. As he
approaches his first birthday, he will be a great communicator, using his gestures,
facial expressions, sounds, and maybe even some “words” (such as
“duh” for “dog”). Before you know it, you’ll have a hard time remembering
when he couldn’t talk.
Close-up: Using All My Senses
M
M
arsha’s four-monthold
son, Jared, loves
his rattle. “Let’s
watch it fly,”
Marsha suggests.
She moves the rattle through the air
so Jared can see it. Jared’s little
arms and legs go like egg-beaters!
When Marsha hands the toy to
Jared, he grabs it and begins to
chew. Jared then shakes the rattle
and delights in the soft, tinkling
noise. Soon, Jared gets tired and
turns his head away. Marsha takes
the rattle and continues to shake it
in front of Jared’s face. Jared closes
his eyes and begins to wail. “Okay,
I get it. Time for a break,” says
Marsha. She picks up Jared and
cuddles him.
During this playtime with
mom, Jared learns about:
. sounds of words and the
rhythm of language as his
mom talks with him.
. communication as he and his
mom engage in a back-and-forth
“conversation” and as his mom
reads and responds to his cues.
. his own self-worth as he
sees how much pleasure his mom
gets from playing with him.
. imitation and cause and
effect when he shakes the rattle
like mom and hears the noise.
. hand-eye coordination as
he reaches and grasps the rattle.
. objects when he hears the
rattle’s sounds, sees its colors,
feels its texture, and even smells
and tastes it.
Playtime for Babies
Back and Forth
.
Coo and talk to your baby. You can imitate her sounds and wait for her to respond.
Encourage her to copy you, too. Show her that pushing the button makes the toy dog
bark or how she can turn the pages of a book.
Peek-a-Boo
.
Try hiding behind your hands, a diaper, or a onesie as you dress your baby. Early
on, he may show his pleasure simply by paying close attention. Then he may smile,
kick his legs, and make sounds. By 9 months, he may pull your hands away from
your face to “find” you.
Sing and Dance
.
Listen to different kinds of music and dance in different ways to see what your baby
likes best. Sing a favorite song that has been passed down through your family.
Don’t worry about the sound of your voice — he loves to hear you.
Play Ball
.
Offer a ball with different colors and textures. Let your baby explore it with all her
senses. Encourage her to see what else she can do with it. This will eventually help
her learn to roll it, drop it in a box, and take it out again.
Q.
Q.
My neighbor’s baby loves his
mobile. He kicks his arms
and legs and squeals with
delight. I got the same mobile for my
baby, and he hates it. He turns his
head away and cries every time I turn
it on. What does this mean?
A.
A.
Children have different levels of
tolerance. While some can handle
lots of sound and movement
all at once, others find that overwhelming.
It sounds like your baby is telling you that
this mobile is more than he can handle. Try
just letting him look at it without turning
on the music. When he seems to be calm
and enjoying that, try gently moving it so
he can see it turn. If he likes it, you can try
adding the music. Slowly and sensitively
introducing him to more stimulation can
help him build greater tolerance over time.
Movers & Shakers
12 to 24 months
P
ossibilities for play grow by leaps and bounds for your young
toddler. She learns to communicate better with gestures,
sounds, and words. She also learns to stand on two feet and
walk forwards and backwards — even run, jump, and climb.
And she’s using her fingers and hands to play with and explore
objects in more complex ways. Children also have preferences
for how they like to explore. Some like lots of action. Others prefer more
calm, quiet play. Watch and you will see the activities your child enjoys.
Toddlers are also entering the world of make-believe. They go from imitating
what they see in “real life” to using their imagination. Whether in the sandbox,
in the bath, or on the kitchen floor, children use their bodies and minds to
learn how this big, exciting, complicated, and wonderful world works.
Close-up: Figuring it Out
K
ira, 20 months, is busy
with her shape sorter.
When her dad, Marcus,
sees that she is starting
to get frustrated, he gives
a little help by putting his hand on
hers. “Let’s turn the yellow square
this way.” In it goes. “Yea!” says
Kira as she claps her hands, clearly
pleased with her accomplishment.
Marcus encourages her to try some
more, “One blue circle and one green
triangle to go.” Kira picks up a
square, shows it to her dad, and says
“boo.” Marcus agrees, “Yes, that’s
the blue circle.” Kira successfully
drops it in. “Good job,” says Marcus,
“how about a triangle?” But, Kira is
ready for something new. She leaves
the shape sorter and gets a book.
“Are we done playing with shapes?”
asks Marcus. “Okay, let’s read about
animals.” Kira cuddles up with her
dad and opens the book.
As Kira and her dad play, she
is learning about:
. colors, numbers, and
shapes as dad names them.
. communication and new
words as she and dad talk
together while playing.
. imitation as she copies what
dad says and does.
. hand-eye coordination and
problem solving as she learns
how to make the shapes fit into
their spaces.
. self-confidence as she masters
a new skill.
. the joy of reading as she
and dad explore books together.
. building close relationships
as she experiences the pleasure of
sharing her discoveries with dad.
Playtime for Young Toddlers
Running, Climbing, and Action Games
.
.
Oldies but goodies like “Ring Around the Rosie” and “London Bridge” encourage children
to move, sing, listen, take turns, and cooperate. The park, playground, and back
yard offer chances to run, climb, and play with other children. On a rainy day, try creating
an obstacle course indoors.
Let’s Do It Again … and Again … and Again …
.
Through repetition, toddlers figure out how things fit together and work. They
might fill and dump a pail over and over to learn about full and empty and in and
out. They may want you to read the same book, and sing the same song, night after
night. This kind of repetition helps children know what to expect. This gives them a
sense of security and control over their world. It also helps them master new skills,
which boosts their self-confidence.
Name That Tune
.
.
Now that yo