Play time also equals learning time for infants and toddlers. Everything you do with your child can be turned into a play experience from which they learn. Even 15 minutes in a hectic day of specific play with your child will not only help them to learn but will also continue to build a bond between you and your child.
All infants need to be placed on their tummy's on the floor at minimum of 15 minutes 2-3 times a day. This provides valuable "information" to their muscles that is needed as they grow and learn.
The following tabs will provide you with fun activities you can do with your child during daily routines or when simply playing with them.
Sing simple songs/nursery rhymes
Dance with a steady soft rhythm
Cuddle before during and after feeding
Place patterned designs and faces drawn in black & white
Play peek-a-boo
Brief supervised tummy time
Play voice games, talk in high/low voice, whisper, tongue clicks
Take turns "talking" with your baby repeat any sounds they make
When baby starts to roll or crawl play I'm going to get you game
Safely attach a favorite toy to crib or chair to encourage baby to reach
While playing sit on floor with baby sitting inside your legs use legs and chest to provide support
Provide a soft rattle for baby to wave about and mouth
Supervised tummy time
Look at books, point to pictures
Put cloth over babies face to encourage peek-a-boo play
Hold baby in front of mirror and point to them and yourself
Put baby on your knee bounce/rock to nursery rhymes
Fill empty tissue box with paper strips let baby pull them out
Provide small finger foods for baby to try to feed themselves
Encourage banging toys, blocks, spoons
Play pat-a-cake
Clap for new accomplishments encourage baby to clap for him/herself
Look at books point to pictures and talk about actions/items on pages
Put toys on low table or sofa to encourage standing play
Move toys a few inches at a time to encourage "walking"
Let baby play with measuring cups, cups with handles, sieves, funnels in tub.
Encourage mirror play point to you and baby in mirror and to yourselves
Read books talk about actions and encourage pointing to item when named (puppy/ball)
Play with sounds (la la, dada, mama) imitate anything they say leave time for them to "reply"
Say Hi and bye bye when entering and leaving the room.
Hold hands to walk across the floor, if stable put on music and dance with them.
When in new places let them watch people and move forward at their own pace.
Encourage exploration of toys and environment
Play hide -&-seek games with objects (let them see you hide a toy under towel or cloth)
Let them start making choices offer two toys or foods and see which the pick.
Food finger paints… puddings, mashed potatoes or whipping cream with food coloring
Simple puzzles using blocks or ping pong balls in muffin pans or egg cartons
Ball games roll/throw a ball to baby and help them to roll/throw it back to you. Beach or Nerf balls are great
Give drink and snack choices encourage words to choose what they want
Read books, pointing to pictures and talking about the them encourage baby to name items (puppy/ball)
Encourage baby to wave/say bye bye or Hi when entering or leaving familiar environments or seeing familiar adults
Help him/her play with a doll or stuffed animal by rocking and hugging them.
Help them to explore how things work with various toys (button pop & light ups)
Make sock or paper bag puppets for each of you. Have your puppet talk to your bay or their puppet encourage them to "talk" back
Make and obstacle course with boxes and furniture for our baby to climb in, on over under and through
Encourage them to help clean up, make up a silly cleanup song like feeding Mr. garbage or combing "sweeping" Mr. floors "hair".
Clap and dance to music with your baby encourage them to move forward, back and spin around. Hold their hands if needed for support
Give your baby lots of toys/things to roll, push, pull, hug, shake, poke, turn, stack, spin and stir to help learn different toys do different things.
Respond to your child's cues to show you something. Name the object and encourage them to say something back taking turns in "conversation".
Make a pull toy by putting yogurt cartons, thread spools or small boxes on a piece of yarn or soft string about 2 feet long. Tie a bead or plastic ring on end for a handle.
Use a doll or stuffed animal for pretend play. Show and tell your baby what the doll is doing. Walking, going to bed, eating, dancing. Also encourage nurturing by helping them , rock, feed the doll/animal.
Loosely wrap a small toy in a paper towel, tissue or wrapping paper with no tape. Let them open it and find a surprise.
Read story books have them name objects in pictures.
Give your toddler squeeze bottles, sponges and fill and pour toys while in tub.
Play with bubbles let them try to blow them or catch them as you blow them
When doing an activity or planning a trip talk to your baby about it beforehand. This helps reduce the fear of being "left behind" and makes them feel a part of what's going on.
Make their own special picture book with a "brag book" of family, friends, pets and favorite toys for them to look at and name.
Play games with actions like ring around the rosey, itsy bitsy spider encourage them to do the actions with you.
Play the what's that game by pointing to familiar objects, people and places for your child to name. If they don't respond tell them what it is and encourage them to imitate it.
Pretend play with toy animals, planes, trains and various cars making the different sounds encourage your child do to the same.
Use boxes or buckets for your toddler to throw a small ball or bean bags into. Practice overhand throwing also.
Take them to the park to play on rocking toys, swings and small slides. The first few times you may want to swing and go down the slide with your toddler on your lap.
Lay their clothes out on the bed before dressing. Ask them to give you the shirt, pants/skirt socks and shoes. Encourage them to name them after you.
Use everyday items like socks, shoes, spoons for matching. Hold one up and have them find the same. Name the objects while your playing the game.
Sing songs with actions, where is tumbkin, I'm a little teapot. Make up your own using your toddlers name. While using farm animals sing "Old McDonald" using sound effects.
Play "dress up" it offers extra practice for dressing/undressing and encourages pretend play. Have them look into mirror and see themselves dressed up ask who they are.
Hide a loudly ticking clock or radio playing softly in a room for your child to find. Have them hide it for you to find for turn taking.
Use small containers spoons, measuring cups, funnels, bucket & shovel in sand play. Bring cars for imaginative play driving on sand roads.
Take your toddler to the park or local library for story time to begin peer play and interaction.
With supervision provide non-toxic crayons, markers and finger paints with large sheets of paper to encourage your child to draw, color and paint. Side walk chalk is great for outdoor fun.
Make a book with different textures on each page. Sandpaper, feathers, cotton balls, nylon, silk and buttons are great and help learn "descriptive words" like rough, smooth, hard and soft.
Put a favorite toy or treat into a bottle for them to explore how to get it out. You can also use one with a screw on lid to encourage them to "solve the problem" of how to get it out. Watch for them to ask for help if needed.
Make homemade play dough (recipes below) let them squish, squeeze and pound the dough.
Read books talk about the pictures have them name pictures you point to.
Collect little and big things (balls, blocks, plates) use to describe big and little ask them to give you the BIG ball do the same for little. You can also make yourself big by stretching your arms up high and little by squatting down.
Use boxes of various sizes to encourage pretend play. A box to sit in is car, a big box with door/window cut out is a house. Give your toddler crayons/markers to color their "car or house".
Use a dishpan with warm water, a washcloth, soap and doll for your child to "wash their baby".
Offer choices for clothing, snacks and drinks throughout the day.
Make "sound" containers using old bottles or plastic easter eggs. Fill them with rice, sand, beans. Tape them shut. Make two of each and have them match them by the sounds they make when shaken.\
Put tape around the end of a piece of yarn to stiffen it like a needle. Tie a knot in the other end. Have your child string large elbow macaroni, penne pasta, buttons or beads. They can use these to make "presents" for moms grandmas etc. Make an edible necklace out of cheerios for snack.
While taking a walk play the "follow the leader" walking fast, jumping, walking sideways. You can also talk about things you see and hear using "description words"
Take time to draw with your child. Draw large shapes and let them color them in. Take turns.
Pretend to be an animal (dog/cat) make animal sounds and actions. Let your child be the owner and "take care of you" by feeding and petting you.
Read books talk about the actions of the characters on the pages (running, jumping, swimming, laughing)
Kool-Aid painting…Help your child sprinkle different flavors of dry Kool-Aid onto a paper plate. Have them spray it with water from a spray bottle and watch the colors magically appear.
Make your own puzzles by cutting out magazine pictures of whole people. Have them help glue the pictures onto cardboard . Cut pictures into three pieces with curvy lines. You can also print out pictures of your child, family members or pets to make puzzles with as well.
Have your child help you set the table. First plates, then glasses then napkins. Putting them into a place for each person helps them learn one to one connection.
Use various furniture about the house to make an obstacle with jumping, over and under activities.
Make a tent with an old blanket over a table. Pack a picnic sack and pillow for nap time campout fun. Flashlights are always a fun addition.
Use two small cups and small cereals, fruits or crackers. Put one in your child's cup then one in yours(one for you one for me) Take turns, then dump them out and count the pieces.
Put pillows on the floor for safety and show your child how to do somersaults. Spinning in place is a fun way to learn how your body works in space.
Use blocks to make different patterns (lined up for a train), bridge, wall and have your child use their blocks to "make the same"
Make long scarves out of lightweight fabric scraps, old dresses or shirts, by tearing or cutting into long strips. Show your child how to hold onto the ends and twirl around, jump and run with the scarves.
When telling or reading a familiar story pause and ask your child to fill in the missing word.
A huge part of our lives as adolescents and adults is based on organization. Putting objects together by various similarities provides toddlers with the beginning processes of organization as well as learning objects by use.
Mix the first two ingredients and then add the water. Cook over a low heat, stirring constantly until well blended. Divide the mixture into 4-5 portions and add a different food coloring for each.
(Optional) add a pinch of detergent it helps with cleanup
Mix instant pudding according to directions on the box using water instead of milk.
Mix ingredients well and knead until smooth—then play.
Cook and stir over low heat until it reaches the right consistency. It will NOT get any firmer when cooled. Keeps a long time if kept stored covered in refrigerator.
Optional can add food coloring to water prior if color is desired. Add a small amount of water at a time until consistency of bread dough. It will not be more than ½ cup. Store in air-tight container or plastic bag.
Mix together. Shape and decorate (raisins?). Eat.
Oven drying method
Mix ingredients well in large bowl
If too dry, work in tablespoon of water with hands. Dough can be colored by dividing it into several parts and kneading a drop or two of food coloring into each part.
TO ROLL: Roll 1/8” thick on lightly floured board. Cut with cookie cutters dipped in flour. Make a hole in the top ¼” down, for hanging by using the end of a plastic straw dipped in flour. Shave the dots of clay from the straw and press on as decorations.
Overnight drying method
Mix ingredients together.
Stir until it boils on stove. Add to the above mixture 1 cup cornstarch mixed with ½ cup cold water.
Stir if it doesn’t get thick, set back on the stove. Use extra cornstarch on table and rolling pin. Roll out dough and cut with cookie cutters. Use straw for making hole at the top for hanging. Dry overnight and decorate using paint, glitter, etc.
Mix ingredients together
Pour this mixture over several small pieces of charcoal in a small bowl. Put several drops of different colored inks on various parts of it. Leave this undisturbed for several days and crystals will cover it in an interesting formation, growing and spreading every day. It will be white where no ink is used.
Sprinkle various flavors of kool-aid on paper plates or heavy white paper (construction).
Mist/spray with water and watch the colors appear.
Gently tip paper back and forth to allow colors to mix and make different colors.
In order to promote better hand control your upper body strength must demonstrate good stability. There are various activities that help build strength which will assist toddlers with different activities such as spoon and pencil use.
To encourage correct grasp of tools (spoon, pencil etc.) use with adult supervision: