Play can be an essential part of development for children as it contributes to the cognitive, physical, social and emotional well-being. It can also offer a great opportunity for parents to engage fully with their children. Despite the key role that this activity plays in a child’s development and the benefits it can bring, play is often reduced in most households due to the daily stresses in life such as, hurried lifestyles, changes in family structure and heavy focus on academic activities alone. As an activity that can provide such enrichment to a child’s life, we will explore how you can help your child develop through play and the benefits it can bring through their different life stages.
Birth to 18 Months
During the crucial first months it is all about developing their (neuron) nerve cells, as they need to begin their connections (the synapse formation) which is rapid during the first year with increased brain activity. This time is all about concentrating on growth in sensorimotor, visual cortex, and the frontal lobes, and is best stimulated in ‘practice play’.
Sights, sounds, touching are all key in how babies learn about the world. The best toys for these earlier months are usually brightly coloured and noise-making; at first these can be mobiles which help their focus and improve vision and music can also be a great tool during these months as it is soothing and can improve their vocals as when you sing or hum along too – they may try to join in.
Mirrors and play mats are also great, they can watch movement which stimulates their visual tracking and hand-eye coordination as they touch and grab different parts. They are often fascinated by what they see and it encourages self-recognition, emotional development, whilst pointing out facial features can aid these synapse connections and their growth.
When your baby can sit up, crawl and walk, their experimental phase can begin as they can play with activity boxes, stacking rings, and shape sorters. These types of toys can help hone in on motor skills and develop relationships with objects.
18 Months to 3 Years
During this time your toddler’s brain is about twice as active as an adult brain as the synapses continue to expand rapidly, the most sensitive parts are languages and social-emotions, whilst motor development continues at a rapid pace.
This is a great time for active toys and any activity that involves running, jumping, climbing and riding are a big hit. Take-apart toys and simple puzzles are a great way to satisfy a child’s curiosity for how things work, increasing their hand-eye coordination, spatial orientation and cause and effect. Building blocks and modelling clay are among the most classic toys for this age group because of their endless possibilities and longevity in the playing process.
3 to 6 Years
These are one of the fastest years for development for the frontal lobe networks, their processing speeds, memory and problem solving. During this time imagination and interaction are important and the best toys encourage role play and connecting real-life experiences to playtimes to create dramatic play.
Using things like play kitchens, tool sets, medical kits, dress up clothes, and sets such as Brio Trains, are a great idea as these spark scenarios that children can construct and master day-to-day experiences. Brio toys are designed to develop skills in a positive way and can last generations as they are wooden, which is a timeless, long-lasting material for toys. A Railway system is a great way for children to develop and grow as it can be added to with a range of sets, tracks, stations, bridges, and many more accessories.
Playing with these kinds of toys and scenario games means that your child’s mind is stimulated, whilst encouraging learning and developing fine motor skills. As you play together, it is important to share facts about the scenarios you re-enact, and ask what they find interesting or how they would act in certain real-life situation. Encouraging them to talk about their pretend world will help your child put their imaginative thoughts into words and give them confidence when vocalising ideas.
6+ Years
The synapse connections in the motor and sensory areas are well established now, and the process of pruning in these areas has begun, increased levels of attention can begin and they have an ability to reduce impulses. Children have got the hang of basic dexterity, language and social skills and are eager to practice these. They like to challenge themselves with puzzles and games to test their knowledge, logic with things like board games, and physical strength with things like roller skates.
As their interests and passions develop they will also love more imaginative options such as craft making sets, playing with microscopes and nature study kits.
These ages are guidelines for how your child will be developing, but it is worth remembering that everyone grows at their own pace and will reach milestones at different times.
Playing with your child can offer great fun and enjoyment, and when used practically you can give them the best start in life and a firm foundation for learning and education. To make sure you help your child develop in the best way possible it is worth looking for age appropriate toys and activities that you can share with your child and really enhancing their learning and development stages. Taking a relaxed approach to playing with your child works wonders, trust your instincts and have fun together.
This week check out the adorable Kids Shop – with fantastic brands such as Le Petit Prince and Vilac (they currently have a range of the Vilac ride along cars – we have a fireenginge by this company and it is GORGEOUS). The kids’ brands are all high quality, traditional brands – where you will find lovely gifts that will last and hopefully be cherished!
