Children’s play is children’s work...this statement couldn’t be more true. When your child is playing, there is a lot going on inside that little head. He's having fun and increasing his developmental learning at the same time. Your child is also:
- making connections
- figuring out that certain actions cause reactions
- trying on new roles
- creating sense and order in the world
- learning to include others
- learning how to make decisions
- learning how to problem-solve
- learning that things don’t always go just the way we want them
- learning to compromise
- using imagination
That’s quite a bit to pull off while “just playing.” Luckily, these experiences come naturally to children, and we can help them along by providing the necessary tools to increase toddler learning.
Preschool Projects Can Be Cost-effective
Encouraging creative play does not have to break the bank. You can set up “Play Central” with items you already have at home. Take inventory of what you have and then decide what items you might need to add, and what items you might need to weed out. If toys are all in a jumble, and pieces are lying all over, it is difficult for children to begin to respect property and to take responsibility for their things.
Encourage Fun Family Activities
Consider organizing your child’s toys into “theme centers,” and make sure you have containers to hold their belongings. Dollar stores almost always have laundry baskets, crates, buckets and the like, which make great organizers. You can even get large empty boxes from the grocery store and paint them, or cover them with decorative paper. Put a label on the containers, and include a picture of the items that belong inside.
This makes clean-up a snap and encourages independence in your little one. All of these things work together to build self-esteem.
Choose a small corner of a room where your child can dream and create. Decide on fun theme centers that inspire creativity. Most importantly, don’t forget to add your child’s favorite plaything to the scene--YOU!