Play is how children learn best.
Through play, children:
- Explore their world
- Learn how to get along with others
- Test their skills and muscles
- Try out new ideas
- Learn problem-solving
- Build self-confidence
- Expand language skills
Support and encourage your child’s play. Allow a variety of play experiences to help your child explore his/her environment.
Set the stage for productive play with the following ideas:
Pretend Play
Keep items handy for your child such as:
- Toy telephone
- Dress-up box with various clothing items
- Empty or hand-made grocery and/or cooking items
- Puppets, stuffed animals, dolls, cars, trucks
Solitary Play
One of our parental goals is to encourage independence. Be sure you make available:
- Blocks
- Books
- Things to take apart
- Empty cardboard boxes
- A box filled with safe, non-toxic art materials
Outdoor Play
Make your yard a discovery area by providing:
- Sandbox with a few plastic items, cars, trucks (cover when not in use)
- Tire swing or a board swing
- Log or piece of timber for a balance beam
- Bucket, paint brushes, containers for water play
- Scrap wood for building
Respond to your child’s play with interest and enthusiasm. Extend the play by joining in the fun or expanding the activity.
