Playing games with your toddler is beneficial for your relationship and for your child's development. Young children learn through everyday interactions with parents, siblings and caregivers. North Dakota State University recommends providing your child with a range of experiences and activities to "help his brain strengthen old connections and form new connections." These brain connections are what helps your child increase his vocabulary, improve his motor skills and respond appropriately in social situations. Play your child's favorite games on a regular basis and add new games every few days.
Step 1
Set aside a time each day for focused play. Play after your child has had her nap so she is rested and happy. Keep your play time short and watch your child for nonverbal cues that she is done playing. If she starts to look away from the game, leaves the play area or gets fussy, it is time to do something new.
Step 2
Sing songs and say rhymes with and without hand motions to entertain and teach your toddler. Use your hands to clap while chanting or singing "Hot Cross Buns" and "One Potato, Two Potato," for example. The rhyming nature of the songs makes it enjoyable for your toddler to listen to and introduces him to counting. Sing the "ABC" song to your child to begin teaching him the alphabet. Even if your child is not verbal, he will likely clap and try to sing with you.
Step 3
Gather several puzzles with large pieces, a set of nesting toys, blocks and a small container such as an empty and clean oatmeal tube. Use these toys to help your toddler learn spacial relationships and develop eye-hand coordination. Sit on the floor with your child and show her the puzzle. Help her remove the pieces and reassemble the puzzle. Toddlers enjoy repetition, so be prepared to do the puzzle several times. Stack the nesting toys inside each other and let your child drop blocks into the oatmeal tube.
Step 4
Add sensory experiences to your toddler's play time. Let your child sit in his high chair or booster seat. If you are finger painting, cover the area around your toddler with a drop cloth or old newspapers. Give your child a plastic plate dabbed with non-toxic finger paint. Show him how to dip his finger into the paint and smear it on his paper. Make or buy some play clay and help your child shape the clay into long rods and balls.
Step 5
Provide your child with a flexible tunnel to crawl through, a small slide to slide down and hula hoops to jump into to help improve her large motor skills. Help her climb up the slide steps and hold onto her as she slides down. Roll a ball through the tunnel and encourage her to follow the ball. Lay two hula hoops on your family room floor and show her how to jump into the center of each hoop.
Tips and Warnings
- Trade toddler toys with a friend so your child can experience different toys. Invite one friend over to play alongside your toddler. Read books to your child. Attend your local library or community center toddler story time. Let your child play on her own occasionally.
- Avoid small toys to prevent choking. Closely supervise your toddler when he is using clay and paint.
Things You'll Need
- Puzzles
- Nesting toys
- Blocks
- Oatmeal container, empty
- Drop cloth
- Newspaper
- Plastic plate
- Finger paint
- Play clay
- Flexible tunnel
- Slide
- Ball
- Hula hoop
References
- North Dakota State University: Keys to Enhancing Brain Development in Young Children
- "What to Expect the Toddler Years"; Workman; Arlene Eisenberg, Heidi Murkoff, Sandee Hathaway, B.S.N.; 2009
- Toddler Station: Counting Songs & Rhymes
- Oklahoma State University Cooperative Extension: Toddlers
- Albany Medical Center: Toddler Program
