What play teaches your toddler

Nothing makes a mom smile like watching her baby playing in the garden by himself or with other children or siblings.

What moms don’t realise is that while he is running after the ball, he’s actually developing crucial life skills. As Pampers Institute Expert and occupational therapist Kate Bailey states, “Young children learn a lot from play. It is how they explore and come to understand the world around them”.

Playing can actually assist them later on in life. For example, play teaches children simple science concepts as they play with dirt, sand and water, or investigate the life cycles of plants and animals in their environment. It also helps your child with maths. She says, “Pre math concepts are developed when a child engages in block playing, sorting and matching items.”

A mom can also develop her baby’s imagination, creative thought and self-expression by encouraging baby to play with paint, markers and crayons.

“A child learns about relationships, family and the community simply by playing house or role playing as a cowboy or a fire fighter. Singing is a great form of play that teaches children new concepts – remember how you learnt your ABC’s?”

So, don’t waste time moms – get your toddler’s playing. Because every little bit of playing be it singing, dancing, or merely interacting is a chance for your child to learn a vital skill for life.

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Pampers® lullaby app: Pampers® has created a “lullaby application” on their Facebook page where parents can download lullabies for their children to listen to. Along with the songs, parents will be able to download the lyrics so that they can sing the lullabies when they put their little ones to sleep.