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Play is Critical to Early Development. For babies and toddlers, simple, playful interactions with adults help develop sturdy brain architecture, the foundations of lifelong health, and the building blocks of resilience

Join Center on the Developing Child Director, Dr. Jack Shonkoff, for a “mini masterclass” with UNICEF Canada on the importance of playing with young children.

Every chat you have with your child helps them develop their social skills. Children’s brains are like little sponges, soaking up everything around them. Kids love it when you chat, play and read with them. And it sets them up nicely for school. Find more about chatting withy our baby or toddler here.

Chat rhymes with cat, hat, and splat. That’s so funny, you really make me laugh!

This box is a car. No, a truck. No, a monster truck, yeah!

Remember these skills when chatting with little ones.

• Talk
• Pause
• Listen
• Respond

Did you know?

• when babies babble or toddlers make noises, they are chatting to you and love it when you chat back
• spending 10 minutes focussed time each day chatting, playing or reading with your child can make a huge differ when they start school
• getting down on the floor and playing with what interests your child each day can help their speaking and listening and their behaviour
• chatting, playing and reading sets your child up nicely for school

Try action nursery rhymes like ‘row, row your boat’ or ‘wind the bobbin’. The rhythm and repeating words are loved by babies and help them learn in an easy fun way.

Watch a mum talking to her baby while she’s completing chores and tasks. She takes her baby with her and explains what she’s doing.

The National Literacy Trust have some great activities from chatting about the day ahead to taking photos and talking about them.

Playing isn’t just fun: it’s also the best way for young children to learn. By playing, children can practise all the skills they’ll need as they grow up and parents and carers are a baby’s favourite playmate. You don’t need expensive toys – just a few minutes at a time to have fun together.

Remember this when playing with little ones. Bring the play into everyday.

Your baby or toddler’s favourite playmate is you – so try to spend time playing with your baby or toddler every day. Did you know that playing actually requires a lot of your baby or toddler’s brain and muscle power? You can find some great ideas and activities for baby moves at Start for Life or activities for toddlers.

It helps develop their social, intellectual, language and problem-solving skills – and is one of the main ways they learn about the world.

Play is so important that it is considered a human right for children.

Remember this when playing with little ones.
Bring the play into everyday.

This short video from Watch Me Play shows how parents and carers can feel more confident and closer to their baby or child through play. Find out more about Why Play Matters here.

Why is play important?

Playing with children throughout their baby days and childhood will build strong and lasting bonds. It helps build their self esteem, confidence and gives better life chances.

Play is good for us. Children learn best through play and this learning happens every day through the experiences and the fun they have.

• Get down at your baby’s level. Talk about what they are looking at.
• Describe what they are doing – use short simple sentences ‘you are holding the red car’ and make the noises ‘car goes brumm, brumm’.
• Respond to the sounds and noises your child makes – even if you are not sure what they are saying take a guess – ‘yes that is your duck’ add some extra detail to what you think they are saying/thinking ‘ducks go quack don’t they?’.
• Try action nursery rhymes like ‘row, row your boat’ or ‘wind the bobbin’. The rhythm and repeating words are loved by babies and help them learn in an easy fun way.

To grow and develop, children need time and attention from someone who’s happy to play with them.

Children learn from everything they do and everything that’s going on around them.

When you’re washing up, let your child join in – for example, by washing the saucepan lids. When you cook, show them what you’re doing and talk to them as you’re working.

Getting them involved in the things you do will teach them about taking turns to help and being independent. They’ll also learn by copying what you do.

Sometimes things have to happen at certain times, and it’s important that your child learns this. But when you’re together, try not to have a strict timetable. Your child is unlikely to fit in with it and you’ll both get frustrated.

There’s no rule that says clearing up has to be done before you go to the playground, especially if the sun’s shining and your child’s bursting with energy.

As far as you can, move things around to suit both your and your child’s mood.

• Every time you give your baby attention, chat and smile, or let them know you are there for them when they are upset, they are learning to trust you.
• Every time you talk, sing and read to your child you are helping them learn the words that they need to communicate their thoughts and feelings.
• Every time you help your child to learn a new skill or understand a new experience, you are helping them feel good about themselves and make sense of their world.

The National Literacy Trust have great activities from playing Peek a boo to having a mini beast exploration.

Leaflets to view or download from your 0 to 19 Torbay and Family Hub teams.

Reading can make us laugh, cry, stir-up emotions to make us think differently or help us to walk in someone else’s shoes. Being able to read can help our children unlock the magic of books and develop a lifelong love of reading. Nurturing reading skills is important to set the foundations for a child’s early language, thinking and writing ability.

Remember to have fun when reading with little ones.

• Share books.
• Share words.
• Share everywhere.

Reading with your child, even for just a few minutes, can make a huge difference to their learning. Children’s brains are like little sponges, soaking up everything around them. Kids love it when you chat, play and read with them. And it sets them up nicely for school.

Did you know?

• sharing books together chatting about the pictures helps learning to read
• spending 10 minutes focussed time each day chatting, playing or reading with your child can make a huge differ when they start school

The National Literacy Trust have great activities from bonding with you bump to sharing stories together.

Sharing a story

Find out why mark making is so important and discover our top tips for supporting this in the early years.

Making scribbles with pens, creating hand prints with paint and drawing patterns in the sand, aka mark making, are all signs you’ll see on the lead up to writing in the early years.

Did you know?

• You can use a paint brush and water to make marks outside.

• You can use a stick to create marks in the sand at the beach.

• You can press objects into playdough to make marks too.

Mark making is the beginning of a child’s journey to writing and is an important step in a child’s development. It also helps with fine and gross motor skills.

What is mark making?

If you work in early childhood education, you’ve likely heard the term “mark making” quite often. But what exactly does it mean, and how does it benefit children’s development?

Mark making encompasses all the scribbles and patterns that children naturally create. Whether it’s drawing patterns in the sand with their fingers, scribbling on paper with a crayon, dipping their fingers in spilled food, or drawing lines in the mud with a stick, these activities are the beginnings of mark making. Children do this almost instinctively, without needing any instruction.

When babies and toddlers start making marks intentionally using their bodies or various tools, they are taking their first steps towards writing and drawing. No matter how children mark make, this is a very important step in both physical development and cognitive development and should be encouraged whenever you spot it!

How does mark making encourage writing?

When children create marks through art or by drawing patterns, they are using essential physical development tools needed for writing. However, this doesn’t mean you can’t encourage mark making in other ways. In fact, engaging in mark making on a larger scale outdoors is particularly beneficial as it promotes ‘whole arm’ movements. These movements help build the foundation of muscle control necessary for holding a pencil correctly.

The benefits of mark making include:

When children create marks through art or by drawing patterns, they are using essential physical development tools needed for writing. However, this doesn’t mean you can’t encourage mark making in other ways. In fact, engaging in mark making on a larger scale outdoors is particularly beneficial as it promotes ‘whole arm’ movements. These movements help build the foundation of muscle control necessary for holding a pencil correctly.

Physical Development
As children experiment with making marks, they learn to use their bodies in various ways. This promotes fine and gross motor skills, different grips, and body control, all of which are essential for writing.

Expressive Arts & Design
Mark making and drawing lines or patterns that represent something else allow children to express themselves creatively. It provides a new way for them to convey their feelings more permanently, rather than through sounds and movement. This activity sparks their imagination and helps them share their thoughts through pictures and stories.

Mathematics
Mark making can lay the foundation for understanding numbers and shapes, leading to the development of mathematical skills.

While some children may already know how to write numbers or form simple words, it’s important to encourage them without rushing through this stage, as children progress at different rates.

Tips for Encouraging Mark Making at Home

Supporting mark making at home can be both fun and beneficial for your child’s development. Here are some practical tips for parents:

• Provide a Variety of Materials: Offer different tools like crayons, markers, chalk, paint, and even sticks for outdoor drawing. Having a range of materials can make mark making more exciting.

• Create a Dedicated Space: Set up a specific area for mark making, whether it’s a small table indoors or a spot in the garden. This helps children associate the space with creativity.

• Encourage Outdoor Activities: Use chalk on the pavement, draw in the sand, or make patterns in the mud. Outdoor mark making allows for larger movements and can be very engaging.

• Incorporate Everyday Activities: Encourage mark making during daily routines, like drawing shapes in spilled flour while baking or using a finger to draw in condensation on windows.

• Celebrate Their Work: Display your child’s creations around the house. This boosts their confidence and shows that you value their efforts.

• Join In: Participate in mark making activities with your child. This not only makes it more enjoyable but also provides an opportunity for bonding.

• Encourage Experimentation: Let your child experiment with different grips and movements. This helps develop their fine and gross motor skills.

• Use Technology Wisely: Digital drawing apps can also be a fun way for children to engage in mark making, but balance screen time with physical activities.

• Read and Draw Together: Combine storytelling with drawing. Ask your child to draw scenes from their favourite stories or create their own illustrations.

• Be Patient and Positive: Every child progresses at their own pace. Encourage their efforts and celebrate their progress without rushing them.

By incorporating these tips, you can create a supportive environment that nurtures your child’s mark making and overall development.

Indoor Activities

Mark making on 3D objects uses different muscles than making marks on a flat piece of paper, strengthening muscles in fingers, hands, arms and shoulders.

Marks can also be made in materials such as dry sand, flour, glitter etc using use a finger. If in individual trays, children can make their marks then when finished, give the tray a shake and you have a blank canvas ready for more marks to be made.

• Finger Painting: Use washable paints and let your child create patterns and pictures with their fingers.

• Chalkboard or Whiteboard: Provide chalk or dry-erase markers for drawing and writing. Chalk is chunky and easy for little hands to hold to draw and doesn’t require much pressure for a mark to be made.

• Scribble Station: Set up a table with paper, crayons, markers, and coloured pencils for free drawing.

• Playdough Patterns: Roll out playdough and use tools or fingers to make marks and shapes.

• Water Painting: Use a brush and water to paint on a chalkboard or a piece of dark construction paper.

• Sand Tray: Fill a tray with sand or rice and let your child draw patterns with their fingers or small tools.

• Stickers and Stamps: Use stickers and stamps to create pictures and patterns on paper.

• Drawing in Flour: Spread flour on a baking tray and let your child draw with their fingers.

Outdoor Activities

• Pavement Chalk: Draw on the pavement with colourful chalk.

• Mud Painting: Use sticks or fingers to draw in the mud.

• Nature Brushes: Create brushes from leaves, twigs, and flowers, and use them to paint with water or mud.

• Water Play: Use a paintbrush and water to draw on the pavement or fence.

• Sand Art: Draw patterns in a sandbox or at the beach.

• Leaf Rubbings: Place paper over leaves and rub with crayons to create leaf patterns.

• Garden Drawing: Use sticks to draw in the soil or sand in the garden.

Creative Activities

• Story Drawing: Read a story and ask your child to draw scenes from it.

• Shape Tracing: Provide stencils or objects to trace around.

• Collage Making: Use different materials like paper, fabric, and natural items to create a collage.

• Bubble Wrap Painting: Paint on bubble wrap and press paper onto it to create textured prints.

• Shadow Drawing: Place objects in the sunlight and trace their shadows on paper.

These activities not only support mark making but also encourage creativity, fine motor skills, and imaginative play. Enjoy creating and exploring with your child!

Babies and toddlers have a natural curiosity to discover using all of their senses and messy play provides an opportunity for them to enjoy exploring objects and materials such as sand, water, paint, playdough and gloop.

Messy play helps to develop imagination and experimentation, allowing your child to develop their curiosity as well as their concentration. Gloop is an interesting messy play activity as it can be both a solid and a liquid, allowing it to be manipulated and run through fingers.

Ideas for managing mess

• Let them experiment with messy play in the bath so it stays in one space that is easy to rinse clean.
• Use outdoor space and/or a play trough or paddling pool to contain materials.
• Have a large table cloth that is a wipe clean material that can be put on the floor to protect the space.
• Use natural products that are easy to clean up such as water, sand or homemade gloop or playdough.
• Use aprons or old clothes when embracing messy play.

Making gloop

Ingredients:

• 2 cups of cornflour
• 1 cup of water
• Slowly add the water to the cornflour, stirring as you go.
• You can add food colouring or scents to add a different sensory experience.

Singing a nursery rhyme is a great way to bond with your little one, at the same time as teaching them new words.

Singing songs and rhymes are a fun way to introduce your child to new words and sounds and to get them active too! Watch a mum and her child sing Row, Row, Row Your Boat.

Watch the videos below to help you learn the words to this rhyme.

• Sit opposite your child and hold their hands, or put your baby on your lap facing you.
• “Row” back and forwards in time with the music
• Don’t forget to scream when you see the crocodile!
• Watch the video to learn more verses, or make up your own.

Row, Row, Row Your Boat lyrics

Row, row, row your boat

Gently down the stream

Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily

Life is but a dream.

Row, row, row your boat

Gently down the stream.

If you see a crocodile

Don’t forget to scream!

Aaaah!

Encourage your child to look for letters and numbers in your house and out and about. You’ll be surprised how many there are. Clocks, TV remotes, phones, kitchen scales, on buses and so many more places.

Download or view these tips from our family hub team.

Blowing bubbles can help to develop motor skills, visual skills and oral language.
Blowing long streams of bubbles strengthen a child’s core muscles and promote eye
contact.

If you’ve run out of store-bought bubble mixture or need a quick entertainment idea for the kids, it’s easy to make your own bubbles from washing-up liquid and water.

But what’s the perfect ratio, and what can you use if you don’t have a bubble wand?

To make the bubble mixture

• 1 Dessertspoon of caster sugar
• 2 Dessertspoons of washing up liquid.
• 1 Cup of warm water

Mix it all together until dissolved and have fun.

Homemade bubble wands

If you don’t have a wand from a store-bought pot of bubbles, don’t despair! You can have fun by looking for different items around the house that can be used to make bubbles. Here are some ideas to get you started:

• Paperclips – bend them into wands or use as they are
• Straws
• Biscuit cutters
• Pipe cleaners
• Fly swatters

View or download our bubble recipe here.

One of the best thing about activities with ice, is that they address all 5 senses. If a child has a sensory processing need or not, sensory play is a vital part of a child’s development. Ice makes an amazing sensory play material and it is practically free.  

Benefits: Toddlers and children process information through their senses. Sensory play is unstructured and is the purest sense of exploratory learning.

Adult supervision required at all times.

What you need:

• Ziplock bag
• Ice Food colour {optional)
• Lemon juice (optional)
• Towels

Fill the ziplock bag with ice and secure it. Encourage the child to explore.  

Tips: When the child is ready to explore more, you can start introducing the ice in a tray with plastic toys. You can also use lemon flavour to explore taste. Enjoy exploring with your baby!

This super-easy playdough recipe is the perfect way to spend a rainy afternoon inside. It’s quick enough to hold a young child’s attention and you only need a few store cupboard ingredients.

Little hands can play with the results straightaway, so there’s immediate fun for all involved!

Did you know that playdough

• Helps to develop fine motor skills.
• Encourages creativity.
• Develops vocabulary, literacy and numeracy.
• Provide a satisfying sensory experience.

All you need is

• 2 Cups of flour
• 1 Cup of salt
• 2 Cups of warm water
• 2 Dessertspoons of oil
• Few drops of food colouring

Mix it all together and have fun.

Download the recipe or view it here.

Babies and toddlers are constantly developing and a big part of how they learn is through their senses. It
is great to give them opportunities to explore through stimulating, sensory play.

Before children use and understand language, they make sense of the world around them using their senses. First they want to find out what objects are like. To do this, babies use their senses to mouth objects to help them discover more.

As a baby becomes more mobile, they become keen to explore how they can make an object interact with the environment and so explore what they can do with it to an ever greater extent. Then they want to find out what the object can become. As their language develops, they use their imaginations to find a functional use for the object.

Sensory play is a vital part of early childhood development, allowing children to make sense of the world around them through their senses. By engaging children in sensory activities, children develop language skills, problem solving abilities, fine and gross motor skills and cognitive growth. Find out more about sensory play and why it is great for your child’s development here.

Brain development

Sensory experiences build nerve connections within the developing brain’s neural pathways. You can find out more about brain development here.

The five senses we commonly think about are known as the external senses and involve our eyes, ears, nose, mouth and skin:

• Visual – sight
• Auditory – sound
• Olfactory – smell
• Gustatory – taste
• Tactile – touch

Stimulating the senses

Here’s some ideas you can try at home.

Playdough

This super-easy playdough recipe is the perfect way to spend a rainy afternoon inside. It’s quick enough to hold a young child’s attention and you only need a few store cupboard ingredients.

Little hands can play with the results straightaway, so there’s immediate fun for all involved!

Did you know that playdough

Helps to develop fine motor skills.

Encourages creativity.

Develops vocabulary,

literacy and numeracy.

Provide a satisfying sensory experience.

All you need is

2 Cups of flour
1 Cup of salt
2 Cups of warm water
2 Dessertspoons of oil
Few drops of food colouring

Mix it all together and have fun.

Lots more information and ideas from BBC Tiny Happy people

Bubbles

Blowing bubbles can help to develop motor skills, visual skills and oral language.
Blowing long streams of bubbles strengthen a child’s core muscles and promote eye
contact.

If you’ve run out of store-bought bubble mixture or need a quick entertainment idea for the kids, it’s easy to make your own bubbles from washing-up liquid and water. But what’s the perfect ratio, and what can you use if you don’t have a bubble wand?

To make the bubble mixture

• 1 Dessertspoon of caster sugar
• 2 Dessertspoons of washing up liquid.
• 1 Cup of warm water

Mix it all together until dissolved and have fun.

Homemade bubble wands

If you don’t have a wand from a store-bought pot of bubbles, don’t despair! You can have fun by looking for different items around the house that can be used to make bubbles. Here are some ideas to get you started:

• Paperclips – bend them into wands or use as they are
• Straws
• Biscuit cutters
• Pipe cleaners
• Fly swatters

View or download our bubble recipe here.

Ice play for babies

One of the best thing about activities with ice, is that they address all 5 senses. If a child has a sensory processing need or not, sensory play is a vital part of a child’s development. Ice makes an amazing sensory play material and it is practically free.  

Benefits: Toddlers and children process information through their senses. Sensory play is unstructured and is the purest sense of exploratory learning.

Adult supervision required at all times.

What you need:

• Ziplock bag
• Ice Food colour {optional)
• Lemon juice (optional)
• Towels

Fill the ziplock bag with ice and secure it. Encourage the child to explore.  

Tips: When the child is ready to explore more, you can start introducing the ice in a tray with plastic toys. You can also use lemon flavour to explore taste. Enjoy exploring with your baby!