The Power of Play: Developmentally Appropriate Play By Your Child's Age
Play is not just an enjoyable pastime for children; it is a fundamental aspect of their growth and development. As parents, educators, and caregivers, understanding the concept of developmentally appropriate play can significantly impact a child's learning and well-being. This blog post explores the significance of developmentally appropriate play for your infant, toddler, or preschooler.
Play and Your Infant (0-12 months)
0-3 months
What I like:
To be held, cuddled, and talked to. This helps my social skills and attachment.
Toys that are safe to hold and put in mouth.
Mirrors (so I can see myself)!
Ways to play with me:
Place me on my tummy during play time when you’re with me. This helps my muscle development and prevents the development of a flat spot on the back of my head.
Recite nursery rhymes, sing songs, and read books to me to help me develop my language skills.
When I make sounds repeat them back to me.
Simply carry me around so I can see your face and smell you.
3-5 months
What I like:
Rattles and bright teething toys.
Smiling.
Learning to sit up and see the world.
Ways to play with me:
During tummy time, put a toy in front of me and help me reach for it.
Take me outside on walks, have me in the car seat, and expose me to different positions and environments.
When you read to me help me feel the pages in the book and look at the pictures. I love bright-colored pictures and touch-and-feel books.
When we play on the floor help me roll over or sit up to learn these skills.
Play peek-a-boo with me!
6-9 months
What I like:
Toys that make noises, stacking items, and toys with moving parts like push/pull toys.
Pulling up to stand with your help.
Ways to play with me:
Sing movement songs like “wheels on the bus” and “patty cake”.
Use movement and action to teach me words like waving bye-bye.
Expose me to cause-and-effect toys.
9-12 months
What I like:
Independently turning book pages when we read together – cardboard books are best.
Learning to play with other infants and learning by watching.
Blocks and balls
Moving around by crawling, rolling, and cruising. Make sure our living space is safe for me to do this!
Ways to play with me:
Avoid TV, phones, & tablets. I need lots of playtime to develop my skills.
Talk to me to encourage me to start doing things myself like feeding and playing.
Name things we are seeing and doing, especially when we are bathing, dressing, eating, and playing.
Play with me using toys that help sort shapes, colors, etc.
Play and Your Toddler (12-36 months)
12-18 months
What I like:
Imitating what you are doing.
Talking to you during play.
Pointing out things I know and using gestures to communicate.
Ways to play with me:
Tell me nursery rhymes, stories, songs, and read to me daily.
Help me play with simple puzzles and shape sorters.
Let me safely explore new areas like playgrounds where I can watch/play with other children.
Make daily tasks a chance to play and engage together like in the bath, car rides, or even while you are cooking, I can be playing with cups, spoons, etc.
18-24 months
What I like:
Giving hugs and kisses.
Exploring things farther away from you (watch me closely because I can move faster now!)
Telling you when things are “mine.”
Being around people and toys I know well.
Ways to play with me:
Ask me to point at objects in the books we read together.
Let me start to help with simple household activities.
Provide opportunities for physical activity like walks, chasing bubbles, and playing with a ball.
Pretend play with dolls, stuffed animals, or dress up.
24-36 months
What I like:
Large cars and trucks, blocks, simple puzzles, “real life items” like kitchen or medical play kits.
Coloring or scribbling with big crayons on paper.
Jumping and climbing.
Ways to play with me:
Limit screen time to 1 hour a day. When I do watch something watch it with me and talk to me about what we are seeing.
Read to me daily and let me pick out the books and turn the pages.
Set up play dates where I can play with other children my age.
Simple art like playdoh, finger painting, and coloring.
Let me move lots by dancing, jumping, and chasing things.
Dressing up like my favorite people and playing pretend while using my imagination – like playing kitchen, tea party, builder, or school.
Play and Your Preschooler (3-5 years old)
3–5-year old’s
What I like:
Physical active play every day. I am learning to skip, hop, run, and jump and I am becoming more coordinated, so I need to practice!
Playing with other children and learning to share, work together, and control my emotions. Simple games can help me learn to take turns.
To play make-believe and imitate life around me.
Music – I can sing, dance, or play an instrument.
To create things. I can build with blocks, simple arts & crafts, and am starting to use glue and scissors.
Ways to play with me:
Read to me daily to continue building my vocabulary.
Encourage me to tell stories and talk about feelings and daily activities. My speech develops through interaction and talking.
Let me participate in activities and social events outside of the home like going to preschool, taking swim or gymnastics classes, etc.
Limit my screen time to under 2 hours per day. Having too much screen time limits my opportunities to interact with other people… and I need this socialization!
Continue to talk to me during mealtime and while doing other daily activities.
Developmentally appropriate play is a powerful tool for nurturing children's holistic development. By providing suitable play opportunities, we can support their cognitive, physical, social, and emotional growth. Remember, play is not just a luxury but an essential aspect of childhood that lays the foundation for lifelong learning and well-being. Let us embrace and encourage developmentally appropriate play, for it is through play that children truly thrive.
For any questions regarding developmentally appropriate play for your child, we’re here to help. Contact one of our child life specialists today!