Play Activities

Play Activities

Helping Children Learn to Play Series: #4 Dolls

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Helping Children Learn to Play with Dolls

boys playing with dolls
Slow & Careful, 2 Boys with Dolls (photo L. Price)

Dolls give children a different kind of play opportunity. Just like other toys, kids could use some support to help them figure out this play. In this century, it really should be possible for all kids–girls and boys–to play with dolls if they want. Most children’s toys need some kind of action, such as fitting puzzle pieces, stacking blocks, or zooming cars. Dolls are for feelings as well as actions. The play experience is also one of relationships.

playing with dollsWe can help children play with dolls beyond what they would do naturally. Some research projects have given chimpanzees and monkeys access to dolls. The animals play with them by cuddling and carrying them around. Is this instinct? Possibly, but the young have also seen mothers caring for their animal babies so they imitate this behavior. Toddlers will also cuddle and carry dolls and we can extend their play.

playing with dollsExtending play can be as simple as singing to a doll or having a conversation. Although the dolls do not reply, we can easily pretend and fill in the gaps, or use different voices. As we model this, children will imitate and also sing and talk. Children are practicing the skills used in real relationships and building a framework for conversations. As we participate in play, we can ask dolls what they need, using the words that kids can say to tell us their own needs. Children may form deep attachments to favorite toys that last for months and years. Misplacing or losing a special one can be a catastrophe.

playing with dollsPlay with dolls stimulates imagination. Pretend play can be very involved and creative. Children often feel like they have no power, that adults have it all. When kids play with dolls, the play can sometimes be rough and aggressive, as kids explore how it feels to be in control. Watching their play can sometimes give us clues as to what children are feeling.

playing with dollsBy engaging with kids and dolls ourselves, we model many different behaviors. Children will build on this in their play. Conversations, relationships, feelings, and imagination are part of children’s play with dolls and contribute to their overall fun and early learning.

Does your child play with dolls? What are some ways that you extend this play?

Play Activities

Helping Children Learn to Play Series: #3 Blocks

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Helping Children Learn to Play with Blocks and Construction Toys

Play is a powerful method of learning for young children and we can support them as they explore how to play with blocks and construction toys. Yes, play is natural; even animals will play. However, we can build on what happens naturally by helping kids learn how to play in different ways.

Look what is thisIt’s not as obvious what to do with a block as it is with a ball. One block all by itself doesn’t do much, but two blocks can make a wall, a tower, or even a noise, when tapped together. Several blocks invite children to combine them in endless ways. This is similar for many various types of construction toys.

Kids will discover many of these by themselves as they play. Because children learn so much by watching and imitating what we do, we can participate with them and introduce different combinations. We might stack one block on top of 2, or 2 on top of 3, or 3 on top of 5, like stairs, or link construction toys in different ways.

playing with blocksChildren also respond to encouragement, such as acknowledging how high they build a tower. We can ask if they can build one higher still, then count the number of blocks with them and watch with excitement.

Blocks and construction toys can also be combined in a pattern, such as red one-blue one / red one-blue one, and so on. Kids will sometimes make long snake or chain patterns wiyh as many pieces as they can. When they seem ready, introduce other patterns such as 3 colors, or pairs of colors. This is a play activity that kids can do independently. They enjoy the creativity and making their own challenges.

playing with blocksPretend play is another way to play and also build brain connections. Combined with other small pieces, blocks and construction toys can be castles, towns, boats, zoos, farms, and whatever children imagine. Once children have some play strategies, their interests can form the basis for elaborate interactions, and imaginary travel beyond time and space. Block play can grow to be a block-buster movie! LEGO block displays and parks are visited by millions each year.

Blocks come in a variety of colors, sizes, shapes, and materials, such as sponge, wood, heavy paper, or plastic. By extending children’s play with blocks and construction toys , we encourage greater involvement and learning. Does your child have a set of blocks?

Play Activities

Helping Children Learn to Play Series: #2 Balls

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Helping Children Learn to Play with a Ball

Playing with a ball is so natural that even animals will push them to make the balls move around or chase them. Children not only roll and chase, but also throw, bounce, and kick balls and we can extend their natural play.

playing with ballsWhile playing with balls, kids are learning how to act purposefully and to coordinate their body, as well as noticing the effect of their actions. They are predicting what will happen each time and making adjustments based on the outcome. That’s already lots to learn, but as parents and caregivers we are children’s first teachers. We can just as naturally expand their play and enhance their learning.

playing with ballsOne of the most simple ways to share about ball play is by participating. Rolling a ball back and forth with a child may not seem like much but the back and forth action sets up a pattern used in conversations. The your turn-my turn also forms part of relationships.

As we play with children, we use a variety of words and different language structures. Learning to use a language fluently will take years and millions of words. Research estimates that a child hears between 3 and 10 million words a year before school. We need to use words in as many situations as possible and encourage children to use them too. Playing ball is one opportunity to do so.

playing with ballsOnce children are ready, we can introduce them to more complicated games than back and forth. This can grow from trying to roll a ball under a chair to aiming for an empty box placed on its side to kicking around a ball in a large outdoor space. Children will create their own challenges and add in rules. Organized games such as soccer are appropriate for older children and develop from baby, toddler, and preschooler ball play.

playing with ballsSome math can also be added to ball play. Children will hear us count and will count themselves. The numbers may not be accurate but they are learning to count each action, one at a time. We can include different sizes for more ball fun.

Children learn from watching, listening, and imitating, as well as from their own actions and explorations. By participating occasionally and showing them different ways to play by themselves and with others, we can enhance their play and early learning. Plus, the fun we experience with them creates life-long bonds. Is it time to Play Ball?

Play Activities

Dinosaur Dress-up and Big Body Play

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Because dinosaurs were big creatures, they have big body actions. Big body movement and play is critically important for children’s healthy development–not just for bodies but for brains too. Kids do not just like to move, they must have active play. Young children have to figure out how their body works and also how to … Continue reading Dinosaur Dress-up and Big Body Play →

Play Activities

Dinovember: Pretend Play and Dinosaurs

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Did you know that children’s imaginations are taking a more than 60-million-year leap when they play with dinosaurs? November is a special month to encourage pretend play because it’s Dinovember! Dinovember began with parents Refe and Susan Tuma who wanted to preserve the wonder of childhood for just a little longer for their children, so … Continue reading Dinovember: Pretend Play and Dinosaurs →