Happy New Year

Happy New Year! I hope this year has started off well for all the families.. This article is about Playing with your Child. I hope you find it interesting and I would love to hear what other activities you and your children do.

Playtime Adults and children alike love to play. For children, play is more than fun- it is essential for learning. Through play, children learn about their world, how to get along with people, test their muscles and strength, gain language, problem solving skills and self-esteem. Sometimes children will play by themselves, or near other children. Sometimes, they prefer to play with others. You can lay the foundation for learning early in your child's life, by giving them opportunities and time for play. Here are some fun activities to try with your child. For babies: Talk and sing to your baby, so he knows your voice well. Rock your baby gently and cuddle him, as you sing "Rock-A-Bye Baby" to soothe him and just for the pleasure of being with your baby. Hang toys where your baby can bat at them. Put your baby on a blanket on the floor to exercise her muscles. Place your baby in a chair or carseat or prop her up with pillows. Play with a flowing scarf or large bouncing ball. Move it slowly up, then down, then to the side, and watch your baby as she follows the movement with her eyes. Play games with your voice. Talk in a high pitched or low pitched voice. Make noises with your tongue. Whisper. Take turns with your baby. Repeat any sounds he makes. Put your baby close to you, so he can seen your face as you make the different sounds. Let your baby look into a mirror. Place an unbreakable mirror on the side of your baby's crib or changing table so he can watch. Look in the mirror with your baby, too. Smile and wave at your baby. As your baby gets a little older: Babies love banging objects to make noise. Give your baby blocks to bang, rattles to shake or wooden spoons to bang on containers. Show her how to bang the objects together. Put some music on the radio or stereo and "dance" with your baby- place him in a standing position and let him bounce and dance. If your baby can stand with a little support, hold his hands and dance together. Make a simple puzzle for your child by putting blocks or ping-pong balls inside a muffin pan or egg carton. Play hide-and-seek with objects. Let your baby see you "hide" an object under a blanket, scarf or diaper. If your baby doesn't uncover the object, cover only part of it. Help her to find the object. Play "peek-a-boo", "pat-a-cake" or "this little piggy went to market". Try playing the games different ways. Hide behind furniture and "peek-a-boo" or clap pan lids or blocks in rhythm with "pat-a-cake". Make an obstacle course with boxes and furniture, so that your baby can climb in, on, over, under and through. Play the name game. Name body parts, common objects and people. This helps your baby to know that everything has a name, and to begin to learn what those names are. For your toddler: Water play is lots of fun. Put "squeeze toys", such as sponges, squeeze bottles, and "dump-and-pour toys", such as cups and bowls, in water in the bathtub for your child to play with. Toddlers love to try blowing bubbles. Or you can blow the bubbles and your child can have fun chasing them and popping them. Play "pretend" using a doll or stuffed animal. Encourage your child to have the doll do what he does- eat, sleep, walk, dance and jump. You can have the doll join in with any activities or games you and your child play. Make a picture book by cutting out pictures from magazines or by using photos of family members and pets. Read the book together and let your child point to the picture as you say what it is, or ask your child to identify the picture you are pointing to. Toddlers love playing with balls. Use a beach ball to roll, throw or kick. "Dress up" clothes provide practice opportunities for children to learn to put on & take off shirts, pants, shoes & socks. They can fasten big buttons and zippers. For children 2-3 years old: Going to the library to find books for special reading time or bedtime. Libraries often have story time sessions, that are appropriate for children this age. The playground offers lots of opportunities for play- on swings, rocking toys and small slides. A trip to the playground or park is a good way to have your child begin practicing interacting with other children. Put an old blanket over a table to make a tent or house. Then have a picnic or snack in the "tent'. Your toddler may even want to have a pillow & flashlight for a nap in the "tent". Get out the paper and crayons. Draw large shapes and let your child color them in. Take turns. Have your child help around the house. She can help you set the table or wash the dishes or fold the laundry. Get a large piece of butcher paper. Have your child lie on the paper and draw an outline around your child's body. Then talk about parts of the body and print the words on the paper. Your child can then color the poster and hang it in his room.