Child Development Series
HealthLink BC File #92a, January 2011
Your Child and Play
From Birth to Three Years
EnglishThrough play, your child learns and develops and sees how people relate to each other. Through play and curiosity, your child develops language skills, social skills like cooperation and sharing, and physical and thinking skills such as how to do things or how things work.
Your Child and Play
Babies develop quickly due to rapid physical growth and brain development. As a parent, you are a key partner in your baby's development. Your caring, nurturing, and safe parenting help ensure your child's optimal development. Remember, each child is unique and develops at his / her own pace. There are general guidelines about child development at different ages.
As a parent, you are the first to play with your baby - the one who provides a safe place to explore and who offers fun and interest. Babies are very social beings and they enjoy play. Take time to play and get to know your baby. Watch what your baby likes best and when your baby likes to play most. Child-proof your home and create a safe place for play. See Health Canada's website for information on "Is Your Child Safe?" at www.hc-sc.gc.ca/cps-spc/pubs/cons/child-enfant/index-eng.php
As your child grows, experts recommend that parents support and encourage their children to play as follows:
- Play actively - Toddlers need at least 60 minutes of physical activity every day to build strong bones, muscles, heart and lungs. Try dancing, skipping, jumping or running.
- Play with other children when possible to help develop social skills such as sharing.
- Play in ways that foster your child's creativity and self-expression.
Your Child's Growth
During the first six months of babies' lives, they grow very fast and learn new skills every day. First they find their fingers, and then their toes. They start to reach for things and realize they can get what they want by themselves. They hold up their head, look around and discover the world. They rock from side to side, and they roll over. Then they learn to crawl and walk. To ensure safety, stay ahead of your baby to keep her from grabbing dangerous things or falling down steps.
Types of Play
Although you may organize your child's play activities at times, most play should be spontaneous and unstructured. When toddlers have the freedom to explore and move at their own speed, they learn the most. Follow your toddler's lead and offer new toys or activities for fun and interest.
Children learn through various types of play. You will probably see your child play in the following ways:
- Solitary play - This is when your child plays by herself. All children like solitary play at times.
- Parallel play - This happens when your child plays beside another child, but they do not interact or play together. Toddlers enjoy parallel play where they observe and often imitate what others do.
- Imitative play - Children imitate or copy each other.
- Social activity - This is the first step toward playing and having fun with others. Before 2 years or 24 months of age, she will offer toys, and communicate with other children.
- Cooperative play - As your child gets older, she will start to play with other children, usually at 3 years or 36 months of age or older.
Types of Activities
The first year is an important time to develop your baby's speech and language skills. Talk to your baby. Point out your eyes, ears and nose, and show him new things and colours. By talking to your baby, you are helping him learn language and communication skills.
In addition, babies learn through touch. Help them explore their world by giving them lots of different shapes and textures. Talk to them as they feel different things, such as a soft stuffed toy. Babies also like to make noise, so give toys such as plastic keys or rattles.
| Check the size of toys and make sure a toy cannot be made smaller. Any toy that fits completely into your child's mouth is too small and can cause choking. |
Babies love to watch you. You can put the baby seat in a safe place on the ground where your baby can watch you make dinner or clean the room. Using simple words and sentences to talk about what you are doing.
Babies love to look at new things, such as mobiles made with bright colours and shapes. Put colourful pictures up where your baby can see them. Start your baby's own personal book with photos including family and friends. Babies love books for the pictures and for the sound of your voice reading. Read to your child every day.
Babies also like music. Play the music you like and your baby will probably enjoy it too. Remember to keep the volume low. Babies like the sound of singing, so sing to them as well.
Babies enjoy walks in a stroller or baby pack to start. As they get older, toddlers like to play and move around, such as crawling, walking, or running. Get outdoors for a walk, and be familiar with your local playgrounds. Children enjoy opportunities to go out and around the block, to the store, play at the beach, or visit family or friends. These are all adventures and learning opportunities.
As your child grows, he will learn best when he can choose what he wants to do from a few options. With time, toddlers will also offer to help parents with activities around the house. Find creative and safe ways that your child can help you. Through play, children are learning cause and effect, new skills, new words, and knowledge of the world.
For more information about child health and development, see the Best Chance website at www.bestchance.gov.bc.ca/
More HealthLinkBC Files on child development series:
- 92b Your Child's Development from Birth to Three Years
- 92c Your Child's Feelings
- 92d Toilet Training
- 92e Time for Bed
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For more HealthLinkBC File topics, visit www.HealthLinkBC.ca/healthfiles/ or your local public health unit. Click on www.HealthLinkBC.ca or call 8-1-1 for non-emergency health information and services in B.C. For deaf and hearing-impaired assistance, call 7-1-1 in B.C. Translation services are available in more than 130 languages on request. |
