“Playing is not just for Fun”
In a world increasingly dominated by screens, the essence of play often takes a back seat. Yet, for speech and language development, play is the secret to early language development. Play help form the foundation for cognitive growth, social interaction, and language acquisition in children.
Playing board games, creating arts and crafts, storytelling, and outdoor activities sets the stage for meaningful interactions. These activities create environments where language flourishes naturally, and reduce screen time. During play kids practice expressing themselves, taking turns, and comprehension skills. As kid develop they transition through various types of play.
Types of Play:
- Physical Play: Highlight the benefits of outdoor activities, sports, and games that encourage movement and exercise.
- Imaginative Play: Discuss the importance of pretend play, storytelling, and role-playing in nurturing creativity.
- Sensory Play: Explore activities involving textures, colors, and different materials that stimulate the senses.
- Constructive Play: Showcase building toys, puzzles, and activities that develop problem-solving skills.
Non-Screen Toy Recommendations
- Building Blocks and Construction Sets: Discuss the educational benefits of toys like LEGO or magnetic building blocks.
- Art Supplies and Craft Kits: Highlight the creativity and imagination encouraged by art supplies, such as drawing sets or DIY craft kits. I always made sure to keep craft staples in the house, scissors, glue, crayons, paint markers and paper. We are always prepared to have fun.
- Board Games and Puzzles: Emphasize the social and cognitive skills fostered by traditional games and puzzles that don’t require screens. Games such as Chutes and Ladders and Candy Land help teach turn taking, counting, and colors.
- Outdoor Toys: Recommend items like bicycles, scooters, or sports equipment for active play outdoors. However, for no cost you can go outside race, chase or play hide and seek.
- Musical Instruments: Suggest musical toys or beginner instruments to promote auditory learning and expression.
- Kitchen fun: While kids shouldn’t play in the kitchen, they can definitely have fun with their food. Try using whipped cream for drawing or writing, use jelly as paint, and let them roll out sugar cookie dough with a kid-sized rolling pin. Making breakfast pancakes from the heart or crafting holiday sugar cookies has been a daily delight for my daughters and me. It’s in these moments of cooking together that we’ve built countless memories while having an absolute blast!
To help facilitate language during play:
- Dive into their world—get down on the floor
- Engage in their favorite games, and let their imagination take the lead. Whether it’s tea parties with stuffed animals or building fantastical cities with blocks, immerse yourself in their play.
- Ask open-ended questions that encourage them to think, create, and problem-solve, nurturing their cognitive skills while strengthening your connection.
- Use simple toys or items found around the house for younger kids
Play Dont’s:
- Don’t let your little one play for long periods of time alone, join in!
- Don’t force your child to play with something you picked but they aren’t interested.
- Don’t spend a lot of money, play can occur with and without toys, remember “Red Light/Green Light”
- Don’t have all the toys in piles where your child can’t find items to play with.
- Don’t allow your child to leave what they have played with in a mess. Young kids can clean up. .
This December, take a moment to play. For more indoor and outdoor activities, and link to my therapy toys, check out our December Newsletter.