Here are June’s Early Literacy Tips about playing:
- Playing games helps your child build comprehension skills early, even with the youngest of children. For example, give everything a name and take turns guessing. Say, “Where’s your nose?” and then, “Where’s Mommy’s nose?” Touch your child’s nose and say, “What’s this?”
- Playing helps children think symbolically — that one item stands for another thing (“My box is a rocket ship!”). This allows them to understand that words can stand for real objects or experiences. The next time your child is playing pretend, ask guiding questions such as “What color is it?” or “What can you do with it?” to encourage even more playing and using their imaginations!
- Dramatic play [where children act out different situations and take on chosen roles to play] can contribute to intellectual development. It helps them work out solutions to problems, think critically, and connect with their peers.
- Playing, especially sensory play where kids can experiment with different textures, allows kids to be in complete control of their actions and experiences, which boosts their confidence in decision making and inspires their eagerness to learn.