Play helps children to develop and learn.
Playing with your child lets them know you love them. It lets them know they're important and they're fun to be around.
You can build a strong relationship with your child through playing with them. This can help their long-term mental health in a positive way.
Play sessions don't need to be long to be useful. But if you are struggling to find time to play together, you can spend time with your child in other ways.
You could let them help you with household chores, such as cooking and cleaning. Learning to help you complete tasks can improve your child’s concentration.
Spending time with you will also help their development. It is better than playing with an electronic device or watching television.
Books and audio books can also improve your child’s concentration. They can help to encourage learning.
You can get a range of free books and audio books at your local library.
A play routine is a planned play session that follows a sequence of activities.
Play routines should be repetitive. This gives children the opportunity to practice new skills.
By planning ahead you can let your child know when playtime will end. Children like to be able to finish their game, rather than stopping suddenly.
Finish your play routine by encouraging your child to tidy up, so that they know when playtime is over.