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The importance of play
Play is central to your child’s learning and development. When your child plays, it gives her lots of different ways and times to learn.
Play also helps your child:
You don’t have to spend lots of money on toys, games and books for children. Homemade toys and free activities are often the most creative ways for you and your child to have fun together.
Tip: Your child will love playing with you, but sometimes she might prefer to play by herself. She might just want you to give her ideas and let her know how her play and games are going. And sometimes she might want to play with other children – no grown-ups allowed!
Different types of play
Unstructured, free play is the best type of play for young children.
This is play that just happens, depending on what takes your child’s interest at the time. Free play isn’t planned and lets your child use his imagination and move at his own pace.
Examples of unstructured play might be:
You can be part of your child’s unstructured play – or not. Sometimes all you’ll need to do is point your child in the right direction – towards the jumble of dress-ups and toys on her floor, or to the table with crayons and paper. Sometimes you might need to be a bit more active. For example, ‘How about we play dress-ups? What do you want to be today?’
Structured play is different. It’s more organised and happens at a fixed time or in a set space. It’s often led by a grown-up.
Examples of structured play include:
Tip: Structured and unstructured play can happen indoors or outdoors. Outdoor play gives your child the chance to explore, be active, test physical limits – and get messy!
How play develops with your child
As your child grows, the way he plays will change – he’ll get more creative and experiment more with toys, games and ideas. This might mean he needs more space and time to play.
Also, children move through different forms of play as they grow. This includes playing alone, playing alongside other children and playing interactively with other children.
Newborns and babies: play ideas to encourage development
For babies, the best toy is you. Just looking at your face and hearing your voice is play for your new baby, especially if you’re smiling.
You might like to try the following play ideas and activities with your little one:
Tip: Regular tummy time and floor play are very important. Tummy time helps your baby develop muscle strength and control. It also lets your baby see and experience the world from a different perspective.
Toddlers: play ideas to encourage development
Here are some ideas your toddler might enjoy:
Tip: If you put on some favourite music while your toddler plays, she can also experiment with different sounds and rhythms. You might also like to sing, dance and clap along to music with your child.
Preschoolers: play ideas to encourage development
Here are some ideas to get your preschooler’s mind and body going:
Tip: When you’re encouraging your child to kick or throw, try to get him to use one side of his body, then the other.
School-age children: play ideas to encourage development
Your school-age child can have fun with the following objects and activities:
Tip: If your child is interested, you could think about getting him into some sports or team activities for school-age children. Other possibilities include after-school or holiday art and craft activities.
If your child doesn’t want to play
There might be times when your child doesn’t want to play – for example, he could be tired or bored by doing the same activity for too long. This is normal and usually nothing to worry about.
But sometimes a lack of play – or a lack of interest in play – can be a sign of a developmental disorder.
Consider speaking with a health professional or your child’s educator if:
This article was published with permission from raisingchildren.net.au
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