CCW: Parenting Tips>>Play




	Have fun! Play with your child to help build muscle coordination, thinking skills, and the ability to interact with others. Your infant learns through watching, touching, tasting, listening, moving, and trying. He learns something new from everything he does. It is extremely important for you to interact with your baby. Talking and singing to him develop his language, listening, and communication skills. Showing him pictures and brightly colored objects helps tune his eyesight and stimulates his thinking skills. Giving your child opportunities to move around lets him experiment with his arms and legs and muscle coordination. All of these activities help your child learn and grow stronger, both physically and mentally. Plus, spending time with your child teaches him that he is loved and wanted. Feeling safe and cared for encourages your child to explore the new world around him, and the more he explores, the more he learns. As your child grows, make sure your home remains baby-safe so that he continues to have lots of safe places to play and learn. Get down on your hands and knees to see what your baby sees and can reach. Remove any objects, such as houseplants and small or sharp items, that should not be a part of your child's play-land. Developmental milestones Routines help your newborn adjust to a regular schedule. Make diaper changes and other routines fun by counting your baby's toes, gently tickling his tummy, and using your voice and facial expressions to keep your baby's attention. By 3 to 4 months your child lifts his head and chest when lying on his stomach, wiggles and kicks, and grasps fingers and toys. Let your child move around when he's being supervised so that he can experiment with his body and use his muscles. Gently move your baby's arms and legs to encourage bending and stretching during bath and play time. By 6 months your baby can hold his head up, roll from his back to his tummy, and is learning to sit on his own. He's ready to play all kinds of games, from searching for hidden toys and peek-a-boo, to banging pots together and shaking rattles. Games help him learn about cause and effect, muscle coordination, sounds, and sights. Plus, he loves to smile, babble, and spend time with you. By 12 months your child will be standing and learning to walk. Give him lots of safe places to practice pulling himself up. This will strengthen his leg muscles as he gets ready to walk. By 18 months your child will be talking, clapping, waving, stacking blocks, and climbing onto furniture. Make sure your home stays baby-safe as your child becomes more mobile and is curious about everything. Make sure your child's toys are age-appropriate. Toys that are soft, bright, and have no small parts that could break off or be swallowed are good choices. Avoid toys that are sharp, have cords or glass eyes, or are smaller than 1¼ inches (about the size of a half dollar). For more information see: Making Your Home Safe for Your Child and Developmental Milestones. <<back to infant parenting tips menu Have fun! Playing with your child allows you to spend quality time together while you help him learn. Your toddler is ready to build tall towers of blocks, draw pictures, pedal a tricycle, and throw, catch, and kick. He is learning to do things by himself, like putting on clothes and shoes and picking up his toys. Making games out of tasks can be a fun way to encourage your child to do them. He may even want to help in household chores. Try to find a balance between activities that your child does alone and those that involve interacting with others. Encourage playtime with other children. This will benefit your child's language development, as well as emphasize the importance of sharing and friendship. Your child loves affection and loves to be silly. Playing and having fun with him shows him that you value who he is and enjoy spending time with him. This builds his self-esteem and teaches him to value himself as a person. Developmental milestones Toddlers are active and curious and learn by doing. Your child will be walking up and down stairs, opening doors and cabinets, and playing outside. Is your home safe? Are all household chemicals or other possible poisons (such as medications) far from your child's reach or locked up? Are steep or dangerous staircases blocked off? If your child is learning to ride a tricycle, does he have a helmet to keep his head safe in case of a fall? Playing is a wonderful way to teach your child to share and interact with others. While it's normal for 2- to 3-year-olds to be possessive of toys and sometimes aggressive, they learn to improve their behavior through interactions with you and other children. Read to your child and ask questions about the story, the characters, and what might happen next. See if your child can point out the shapes and pictures on the pages. Have your child repeat words and phrases. Make sure your child's toys are age-appropriate. Play-dough, crayons, dress-up clothes, sandbox toys, and books that rhyme are all wonderful playthings that stimulate your child's imagination and creativity. Avoid toys with sharp edges or small, removable parts. For more information see: Making Your Home Safe for Your Child and Developmental Milestones. <<back to 2 to 3 years of age parenting tips menu Have fun! There are lots of exciting places in your community to take your child. A trip to the zoo, a walk in a park, or a visit to a children's museum can all be fun adventures. All of these experiences help your child learn, and they allow you to spend some time together. When you visit one of these places, talk with your child and ask him questions about his experience. Ask him to point out new things that he sees. Let him explore this new environment and help him learn about it. The library is another great place to visit. Many libraries host reading activities that are fun and exciting for children. Going on outings with your child teaches him about his community and about the importance of being active, but there are still lots of fun ways you can play and have fun with your child at home. Doing puzzles, playing catch, helping him learn to ride a bicycle, reading together, and going on walks are all wonderful ways to spend time with your child. Developmental Milestones Your preschooler is learning colors, shapes, and numbers. Play counting games, match shapes together, and draw with different colors to help him learn. Your child is running, catching, kicking, swinging, skipping, and learning to ride a bicycle. Encourage this activity. Physical activity helps keep children's bodies and minds growing strong and healthy. Children who are active when they are young are more likely to keep it up as they get older. Your child may be ready to become involved in organized sports such as soccer, baseball, or dance. However, this organized play is no substitute for playing with you. Make sure you still make an effort to spend quality time playing with your child. Are your child's toys age-appropriate? Construction sets, roller skates, books, and finger paints are all good choices. Toys that shoot or are flammable and paints that are oil-based should be avoided. For more information see: Making Your Home Safe for Your Child, Developmental Milestones, and Creating a Supportive Environment. <<back to 4 to 5 years of age parenting tips menu