It seems too simple to be true, but the fact is, simple play promotes learning. This was not new to me when my son began speech services almost three years ago, but I was astounded when I saw how intentional play with simple toys and objects got him to start talking.
Over a span of 18 months, he had four different speech teachers, and from each of them I learned numerous tricks to help his speech develop. So did his sister! My daughter may not have needed the speech therapy, but her vocabulary was enriched, and so was her way of thinking about the world around her. Two of my children gained so much from those 30 minute, bi-weekly visits, and what did they do....PLAY!
Children of all backgrounds need to play, and they need to play with their caregivers and relatives. When they play with the people they love, the experience is positive - they are comfortable and willing to absorb the world around them.
So, what do you play?
It depends. Your child's age, interests, needs, and abilities will be a guide when choosing the right game or activity. For example, you're not going to put a 65-piece puzzle in front of a child who has never seen a puzzle, or ask a 7 year old to play Pat-A-Cake.
For infants:
This is when you play Peek-A-Boo. Put baby in the high chair, duck yourself down below the tray and spring up shouting "Peek-A-Boo!" (Be sure to give yourself distance from the tray...your head colliding with it will not make the experience fun for anyone.)
Use "scarves." Find colorful fabrics and cut them into squares slightly larger than your hands. While sitting on the floor with baby wave the squares around both of you. Use words like "high" and "low" to describe the position of the fabric. Toss several of the squares in the air at the same time and watch them fall around baby. You can even hold the squares up and say what color it is. Is the goal to teach our child prepositions and colors? No. This is exposure to movement and sounds, and the effects are long lasting. (If your "scarves" are not hemmed be sure to check them frequently for loose threads which can be a choking hazard.)
For Toddlers:
Try cooking. You don't need to bake real food to have kitchen fun with a toddler. You can use the pots, pans, and spoons from your kitchen, or pieces from the kitchen set if you have one. Toddlers love to emulate the adults around them, and if they see you preparing food, the odds are good, they'll want to do the same. You can sit on the floor or at a table and mix, flip, and pour the foods your making. Start developing his/her imagination! Don't be afraid to say "Please pass me the milk," or "Could I have a bite of that pancake"? Let them drive the adventure, ask "What will we make today?" In twenty minutes of pretend cooking, you've modeled good manners, helped develop conversation skills, built vocabulary, and impacted their motor skills in a positive way.
Playing with a child is the greatest, and simplest way to foster learning in a child. I'm sure you're already doing just that, so give yourself a pat on the back, then go play something new.
I think I've said enough in this entry, but if you've got a preschooler, stop in again at The Nursery Librarian for some playtime suggestions soon.
Until then...Happy Play Time!
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