Playing

Your toddler learns as they play. It’s how they find out about how to do things and what works. You’ll also find it’s how they develop their communication skills and a way for you to use your imagination as much as your tot!

Leave the pricey toys on the shelf

You’ve almost certainly got loads of things around your home that will be just as fascinating to your toddler as expensive toys. Here are a couple of ideas:

  • Make some playdough – messy but great fun
  • Do some child-friendly baking – let them help you in the kitchen and do some baking
  • Set them a task like collecting 10 things in an empty shoe box.

Your playbox ingredients

Here’s a quickstart to some cheap and easy playthings for your toddler:

  • Dress-up clothes: pick these up easily from a second hand shop.
  • Cardboard boxes from shopping: make masks and hats.
  • Catalogues, phone books and junk mail: cut out photos and words – stick these together to make collages.
  • Old sheets, towels and even your sofa cushions: transform your home into a moonlanding or simply build a den for explorers.

Your playtime pay offs: how play is good for you and your toddler

  • You can help your kids to learn and develop new skills.
  • Your toddler grows in confidence and feels good about themself.
  • You’re encouraging them to exercise, improves their physical coordination and learn to get rid of their frustrations in a healthy way.
  • Your tot gets to meet, mix and share with other kids. You can get time to chat with other mums and dads and even have time to treat yourself.
  • You and your child can get closer and get to know each other as you play.

Five ways to help your tot get the most out of TV

  • Help them understand what’s on screen. Explain anything that could prove difficult and encourage them to be an active viewer by asking questions. ‘What do you think is going to happen next?’ ‘Why do you think so-and-so did that?’ ‘What was your favourite part of the story?’ and so on. There are ways to talk to your tot that helps them – for example, getting down to their eye level – find more tips on how to speak to toddlers.
  • Build on their viewing – you can fill in the gaps because the TV doesn’t answer back or ask questions like a normal play partner. Give your child chance to take things further by encouraging them in games based on what they have seen. Provide props such as a tea-towel for a cloak or make a cardboard crown.
  • You’ll all get more out of mealtimes by chatting and bedtime with storytime if you can remove the TV from these situations.
  • Use the TV as a tool but it’s not a substitute for time with you.
  • Rewarding or punishing your tot with the TV or its removal makes the TV more important than it needs to be. The TV, bedtime and mealtimes are all great ways to give your toddler boundaries to make them feel safe and the world more certain and easier to understand.

ASK AN EXPERT IN… Child psychology

"Children learn to talk because someone listens to them and replies. Try turning off the TV and the radio sometimes and look at some pictures together. Catalogues and magazines are fine. Children’s libraries are full of colourful picture books and are very friendly places for children these days. They’re even free!"

  • Name what they can see, make animal noises and imitate what they do.

Christine Puckering, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Glasgow University

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Everyday Routines - Playing