Play is an essential part of a child's development, and it's important for parents to understand the role it plays in supporting the growth and development of newborns and toddlers
Play is not just for older children - even newborns can benefit from playtime. In fact, play is an important way for newborns to start exploring their world and building relationships with others. Some of the benefits of play for newborns include:
- Building bonds between parent and child
- Encouraging sensory development
- Supporting cognitive development
- Helping babies to develop social and emotional skills
There are many different ways to play with a newborn, including skin-to-skin time, singing and talking, and reading together
As children grow and develop, the benefits of play continue to be important. For toddlers, play helps to support their physical, cognitive, social, and emotional development. Some of the benefits of play for toddlers include:
- Encouraging physical development and coordination
- Supporting language and communication skills
- Building social and emotional skills
- Encouraging creativity and imagination
Encouraging play is an important part of supporting your child's development. Some tips for encouraging play in your home include:
- Providing a safe and nurturing environment for play
- Encouraging outdoor play and physical activity
- Providing age-appropriate toys and activities
- Spending quality time playing and interacting with your child
- Modeling play and exploration for your child