Play with Children

Now that I have a lot more energy in the day time, I am beginning to play games with DD1 more often. She loves to play Chutes and Ladders, Candy Land, puzzles, dolls, and pretend she is cooking. I also read at least one book to her everyday. She loves to recite nursery rhymes together with the Mainly Mother Goose album. Now that she is able to express her thoughts better, I really enjoy playing these games with her and observe her reasoning and counting skills being developed.

According to the Children, Youth and Women's Health Service in South Australia, there are many benefits to let children have sufficient play time. Here are some examples:

Learning - intellectual development
e.g.

• Sorting toys - learning about number and grouping
• Puzzles - learning about shapes, sizes, number
• Posting boxes - learning about space and size
• Hitting a mobile and making it move - learning about cause and effect
• Card games and board games
• Making up games

Developing motor (physical) skills
e.g.

• Pushing and pulling toys
• Riding on toys
• Picking up small things
• Throwing and catching
• Climbing toys
• Using crayons or paint brushes
• Writing
• Computer games
• Hitting balls

Social/emotional development
e.g.

• Playing alongside others and watching them
• Playing with others
• Playing mothers and fathers
• Copying adults and practising adult tasks and roles
• Water, paint and mud - expresses feelings
• Music - relaxes and expresses feelings
• Pretend play - dressing up
• Games with rules (eg hopscotch, card games, ball games)

Developing language
e.g.

• Stories and books
• Songs
• Nursery rhymes
• Games with friends and adults
• Talking to each other
• Listening to tapes

Visit this web site for more ideas about playing with your kids.