Positive play top tips: Encourage child-led play to support your child’s development. Play fosters positive feelings and shared experiences between parent and child, helping to build strong emotional connections

Things to know:

Play supports the development of:

• Speech
• Language and communication
• Imagination
• Problem-solving
• Interaction
• Self-esteem
• Confidence building

Remember to give your child time to explore and lead the play without taking over.

Things to try:

• Get down to the same level as your child when playing.
• Listen to what your child is saying and doing.
• Follow your child’s lead in the play.
• Be a role model and encourage sharing and turn-taking.
• Praise and encourage your child as they play.
• Laugh, have fun and share your feelings of joy with your child.

Helpful websites

• For more information on helping your child to communicate, visit How can I help my child communicate with me? – CBeebies Parenting
• For more information on the importance of play for babies, visit Why is it important to play with newborns? – CBeebies Parenting
• For more information on how toddlers learn through play, visit How toddlers learn through play – BBC CBeebies Parenting

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