Learn By Playing: Relationship & Communication Skill Sets Through Games
Learn By Playing
Playtime: An Instructive Experience for Parent
and Baby
By Carol Harding for Your Baby Today
Play is a child's "work" because it accomplishes so many
developmental tasks. When children play they learn about themselves
and the world around them - how to relate to others and how to communicate.
A baby's playtime is equally important for parents. Playtime allows
a parent and baby to share glee, and draws a parent into a baby's
magical world. Tickle-tickle, peek-a-boo, and those made up interactive
games are not only fun, but also bond baby and parent. The smiles
and giggles that emerge make the simplest activities rewarding.
Parents appear to be genetically "wired up" to enjoy
being with babies. First movements, burps, and yawns provide parents
with lifelong memories. A baby's first sounds teach parents to talk
in a special language (called "motherese") that helps
develop language skills. It is during playtime that parents and
babies come to know each other and learn to communicate.
Kicking, reaching, touching, gumming, wiggling, and babbling are
all ways that infants and toddlers experiment with body sensations
and motor movements. Swiss Professor Jean Piaget watched his own
children and others engage in this kind of "sensorimotor"
play as he formulated his theory of how humans develop knowledge.
Babies' play, he believed, was the foundation for all later learning.
To him, babies were like small scientists who experiment with their
bodies and the world around them as they invent knowledge.
Although healthy babies tend to play whenever and wherever they
can, there are some ways that parents can help turn ordinary moments
into fun learning opportunities.
Create a playful environment. Babies don't need toys as much as
they need time and a child-safe space to discover themselves and
their surroundings.
Let play happen. Don't over plan for play or structure too many
activities for a baby or toddler. Quiet time and shared interactions
that follow from baby's natural body movements and actions are the
best ways to help a baby learn through play.
Both interactive play and individual playtime are important ways
a baby learns. Diaper changing games and those invented together
during bath time and mealtime are wonderful ways to interact and
help your baby learn about the routines of life.
Support a baby's playtime. Talk with children about their play,
be sure they have time for their own inventions and fantasies, and
appreciate playtime in your own life.
Learn about play. Go to the U.S. Department of Education's Web site
(www.ed.gov/databases/ERIC_Digests/index) and conduct a search for
"play" for articles about playtime throughout a baby's
development.
The content on these pages is provided as general information only
and should not be substituted for the advice of your physician.
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