As summer graces us with longer days and warmer weather, it’s the perfect time to encourage outdoor play for your little ones. Whether you have a spacious garden or a cosy patio, outdoor activities provide an excellent opportunity for babies and toddlers to explore, develop, and enjoy the world around them. From sensory play to the simple joy of feeling grass under tiny toes, the benefits of outdoor play are endless.

The Importance of Outdoor Play

Outdoor play isn’t just about burning off energy (although it certainly helps with that!). It’s a vital part of your child’s development. The outdoors provides a rich sensory environment, where little ones can see, hear, smell, and touch a variety of natural elements. This kind of sensory stimulation is crucial for brain development, helping babies and toddlers build connections between their experiences and the world.

Outdoor play also encourages physical development. Crawling on grass, toddling over uneven surfaces, and reaching for leaves all help to develop strength, balance, and coordination. And let’s not forget the importance of fresh air and sunshine! Exposure to natural sunlight helps the body produce Vitamin D, which is essential for healthy bone development.

Toys & Activities to Enhance Outdoor Play

While the natural world offers plenty of stimulation, a few carefully chosen toys can brighten your child’s outdoor experience. Let’s look at some ideas! 

Water Play: 

A simple paddling pool or water table can provide endless entertainment on a warm day. Babies love splashing about, while toddlers can experiment with pouring and squirting. Add some floating toys or plastic cups, and you’ve got a mini water park right in your garden! Don’t forget to keep a close eye on them, as water play requires constant supervision.

Sand & Sensory Play: 

If you have the space, a sandpit can be a wonderful addition to your outdoor play area. Babies will enjoy the texture of the sand, while toddlers can dig, build, and explore. You can also create a sensory play area with different textures – you may think leaves, pebbles, and even a patch of mud. This not only keeps them engaged but also stimulates their curiosity and creativity.

Ride-On Toys:

 For toddlers who are on the move, ride-on toys are a great way to encourage physical activity. Whether it’s a tricycle, a push-along car, or even a sturdy balance bike, these toys help develop motor skills and confidence. Plus, they provide an exciting way to explore the garden or local park.

Outdoor Arts & Crafts: 

Bring out the budding artist in your child by taking their creativity outdoors. Chunky chalks are perfect for drawing on patios or pavements, and washable paints can turn an old sheet into a canvas. Painting stones or leaves is another fun activity that combines art with nature.

Bubble Fun: 

There’s something magical about bubbles, and they never fail to delight babies and toddlers! A bubble wand or bubble machine can provide endless entertainment as your little one chases, pops, and marvels at the floating spheres.

Nature Exploration: 

Encourage your toddler’s curiosity with a nature hunt. Collect leaves, flowers, and stones in a basket, or simply let them explore at their own pace. Even the simplest things, like watching ants march or birds flutter, can captivate a young mind.

Safety First

While outdoor play is full of benefits, it’s important to keep safety in mind. Always ensure that your outdoor play area and outdoor toys are secure, with any hazardous objects out of reach. Keep an eye on the weather too! On hot days, make sure your child is wearing sunscreen, a hat, and stays hydrated. For babies, it’s best to avoid direct sunlight during peak hours (11 am to 3 pm) when the sun is strongest.

Making the Most of Summer Holidays

The summer holidays are the perfect time to embrace outdoor play. With longer days, there’s plenty of time to fit in outdoor activities, whether it’s a morning in the garden or an afternoon at the park. If you’re planning a staycation, why not create a mini adventure in your back garden? Set up a tent, have a picnic, or organise a treasure hunt! These activities can make the holidays special without needing to go far from home.

Encouraging your baby or toddler to play outdoors is one of the greatest gifts you can give them. It’s not just about fun and games, it’s about fostering a love for nature, building confidence, and creating precious memories. So, grab your sun hat, pack a bag of essentials, and step outside into the sunshine – There’s a whole world waiting to be explored! 

For the big world of our little ones, role-play toys are a staple to keep their imagination and creativity alive as they also learn and develop. Providing them with endless scenarios, these toys play an important role in their development by promoting their social, emotional and cognitive skills. From taking care of house chores to becoming a doctor, role-play toys enable little ones to explore different roles and narratives. Together, let’s explore what they are, and how our little ones benefit from playing with these toys.

What are Role-Play Toys?

To define, role-play toys are interactive toys designed to imitate real-life objects, professions or situations. Varying from kitchens, tool sets, items related to profession, and even costumes, role-play toys are designed to provide children with simulations of many scenarios of life from the real world to their imaginary dreamland. These toys encourage the child’s imagination, social interaction and cognitive development. By engaging in play, our little ones get to explore different scenarios and experiment with various perspectives. 

Benefits of Role-Play

Role-play leads our kids to expand their ways of thinking and seeing the world through fun. We could say that by engaging in role-play, your kids hit two birds with one stone, entertainment and development. Role-play might be guided by the features of the props and toys but since the process is entirely child-led, it allows them to let their imaginations run free and encourages them to experience. Freedom of imagination enables them to act out their ideas which in turn helps develop their skills and confidence. Many spaces designed for children like nurseries include dedicated areas to encourage creative play.

Let’s discover some of the endless benefits of role-play:

• Social Skills: When children engage in role-play, sharing ideas and cooperating with one another is inevitable. This leads them to develop and enhance social skills such as communication, turn-taking and making decisions, and teaches them to share and on occasions, plan out a sequence of events. It also helps to stimulate empathy and create bonds with other children – encouraging them to learn to take into consideration other people’s points of view and become a member of society. The animation of any particular societal role itself also leads children to reflect on how someone else may behave in another situation, for example, what a teacher may say to his or her class – this exercises a child’s understanding of the thoughts and responses of other people.
• Physical Development: During role-play, children tend to be highly active. Moving around while acting in character, they may lean into other physical activities such as dancing or jumping, depending on the activities their desired character takes on in their imaginary world. They may also want to prepare themselves an area or stage to act out their imagination, which encourages both mental and physical planning, at the same time improving their spatial awareness.
• Emotional Development: Engaging in role-play provides them with a safe and free space where children can address their emotions, experience and experiment with their own feelings and understand and process information. It is their free space in a safe and supervised environment, which allows them to manage and process their emotions and provides a domain to process both the ups and downs of life in their own way.
• Confidence & Self-awareness: As previously mentioned, this type of play is led by children, meaning that the child leads the direction of the play and what happens with their imagination – creating different roles, discussing ideas and making decisions with others, adjusting their roles to suit different situations. All of this provides them with a space to become self-aware, consider other opinions and negotiate, and helps to build confidence.
• Making Sense of The World: Role-play gives them a chance to make sense of the world around them while leading them to boost cognitive abilities – a role-play scene may involve several different stories, and various characters with unique traits. This can help encourage our little ones to understand the wider world, the concept of geographical locations and local communities and conditions; for example, pretending to be in a particular space, in the forest or exploring a familiar local region. The use of technology and machinery is often present in such play as well, using phones, pretending to scan things at the checkout depending on their location, and making use of toolkits and kitchen utensils to name a few of the many. 
• Language and Communication Skills: Role-play stimulates speech and language development, especially when more than one child is actively participating. Roles revolving around professions and real-life situations invariably use language to issue instructions, for example, the doctor, or the lawyer. Kids may also improve their literacy skills by creating lists, cards, invitations, menus for a café and so forth, as they work the ways of their imagination. Most role-play toys are often designed to encourage and develop literacy skills, making them effective and entertaining at the same time.
• Enhancing Numeracy Skills: Participating in role-play with situations revolving around any sort of sale for example in the shop, at the market or ordering food at the restaurant, typically requires some form of counting. This may range in complexity, but many toys are designed to help children with number recognition, counting skills, and a basic understanding of the concept of money and division.

Different Stages of Role-Play

With a different growth stage, comes a different understanding of the world and each child reacts differently. Role-play evolves as your little ones grow, and takes shape with their stages of development. Though each child is unique, there are some key traits within each developmental stage that children reflect while roleplaying. Let’s discover some of them:

• Imitative play (18-24 months): Children start learning and experimenting by imitating, from feeding a doll to pretending to talk on the phone, or doing house chores. Imitating helps them understand the world as they see it and learn by mimicking the behaviours of people around them.
• Symbolic play (2-3 years): At this stage, children start interacting with objects to represent other things. a hair dryer may become a telescope, a bowl or a drum. they engage in pretend play and explore the extent of their imagination through already existing objects and what they can make of them.
• Socio-dramatic play (ages 2-5): As children get close to preschool age, they start to take part in more complex role-play activities. They give themselves and others roles in their stories, create scenarios, prepare the environment for their story, and engage with others. They might set up a pretend hospital, act out a tea party, teach, or become ‘parents’ to their toys or friends.

How to Encourage Children to Role-play

• Providing a variety of props from cleaning sets to miniature kitchens or stage accessories, allowing them to have a diverse selection of equipment enables them to explore different roles and scenarios, giving them a little push to kickstart their imagination. Not every prop has to be bought, of course, creating props with your children from already existing items for them to play with later on can be turned into another creative activity to build heartwarming memories.
• Pretend play is not only for the little ones! Joining your kids in making their land of imagination turn into reality, taking on different roles and engaging in unique conversations not only boosts their social and communicative skills but also strengthens the bond of family and highlights the joy of role-playing! 
• If possible, create a dedicated area in your home for your children to role-play, this could be a spare room or just a corner in your living room. This designated space filled with necessary props and costumes for them to explore themselves will encourage them to dive in and immerse themselves in play, in an area safe for them to do so. 

For everything about play and toys, see our Play & Toys Guide for a comprehensive resource. 

If we do not have anything, we have our family, and it is just as important to keep the bonds as strong in the next generations as they are in our generation. In addition to keeping the family spirit going, family bonds, especially among cousins and siblings are crucial for a child’s emotional and social development and health. These relationships allow our children to experience a sense of belonging and support and help them navigate various challenges of life as they grow up. Having strong and healthy family connections fosters trust, communication and cooperation, which are essential for personal growth. By nurturing these bonds from day one, we can create nets of love for our children to fall into when life gets tough. 

Fun Activities for Cousins to Encourage Bonding 

Engaging in fun activities with our loved ones always doubles the fun! It is a great way of reinforcing relationships. Allowing them to dive into fun together provides them with a safe space for self-expression, and leads them to collaborate on shared goals, strengthening their bonds for a lifetime. 

Outdoor Play: Outdoor play provides a natural setting for siblings and cousins to bond through the fun of exploration and physical activity. Parks offer a variety of activities like swings, slides and many other games that encourage cooperation and shared enjoyment. Walking in nature allows them to explore and discover their environment together, helping them create memories and indulge each other in exploring and learning. Like parks, beach outings can be filled with exploring, playing in the water, seashells and sandcastles and lots and lots of happy memories. 

Indoor Games: While outdoor plays provide exploration, indoor fun is a cosy way of bonding during rainy days and quiet afternoons. Activities like building forts turn any room into the magical castle of their dreams, promoting teamwork and roleplaying. Board games to pair inside the forts teach patience, strategy and cooperation as they compete for victory. Storytelling enhances their communication skills, strengthening emotional connections.

Creative Projects: Creative projects are a fantastic way of bonding while expressing oneself and the artistic talents. Arts and crafts toys like playing with clay, drawing and painting together, allow them to share creativity and encourage each other in terms of expression. Baking together can be fun, educational and delicious! A fun and delicious way of following instructions, and expressing creativity, baking is a fantastic way of bonding for children. DIY projects such as building birdhouses or making bracelets and necklaces are also a great way of fostering teamwork and creativity.

Special Events and Traditions

Cousins’ Day: Cousins’ Day is a special occasion dedicated to celebrating the unique bond between cousins, which is also celebrated nationally in the UK on the 24th of July. This festive day can be filled with fun activities such as picnics, mini-games, and creative projects that they enjoy together. It offers a perfect opportunity to strengthen their relationship through shared experiences and create the best memories. 

Holiday Traditions: Holiday traditions create a wonderful opportunity to bring family members together with joy and laughter. Decorating the Christmas tree, making handmade ornaments, or baking together can become family rituals. These fun traditions provide opportunities for cousins to collaborate, share, and enjoy the company. Involving everyone in festive preparations strengthens the bonds and makes these special days even more special. 

Birthday Celebrations: Joint birthday parties provide another wonderful opportunity for the little ones of the family to bond. Hosting one allows them to enjoy their special day with their close ones, creating a cosy comfort zone among the family, and doubling the fun. Collaborative gift-giving can teach them the value of sharing along the way. These celebrations create lasting memories while promoting the importance of celebrating each other’s milestones together.

Communication and Interaction

Even when there is not much time or opportunity to explore the parks or play games all day, regular communication is key to maintaining the bond between our little ones, especially if they live far apart. Allowing them to communicate regardless of the distance, thanks to technology, and providing them with a place to share their stories, keeps their bond as fresh as day one.

Video Calls: For some cousins, it is not always possible to meet in person, and video calls work wonders to maintain the bond between them. Regular video chats allow them to see each other and have them share stories, experiences and adventures. These calls can include fun activities like virtual games, reading, and even drawing together. By scheduling regular video calls, we can ensure that our little ones remain connected regardless of distance. 

Story Time: Stories are what makes a community and they are a wonderful way of bonding. Allowing them to read together, or have them create stories provides a special time to connect and enjoy each other’s company. Taking turns to read or tell enhances their communication skills and creativity. With regular meetings for this, we can foster a lifelong love for reading and telling along with forever bonds with loved ones. 

Gift Ideas for Cousins

Most special moments of growing up are made with siblings and cousins, and topping special moments with thoughtful gifts is a wonder for strengthening the bond and creating lasting memories to adorn the best corners of our hearts. Gift ideas can range from personalised items to shared experiences, all can make them feel special and cherished, while developing our little ones’ communication skills and preparing them for life. 

Personalised Items: Thoughtful and unique gifts are beautiful ways of showing your love, and strengthening the bond between cousins. T-shirts featuring their favourite character, or funny quotes can make playdates more special and memorable. A photo book filled with the best memories serves as a keepsake, allowing them to reminisce about the good days in the future. Buying an object with no design, and then painting it before gifting also makes for the most heartwarming gift, putting a smile on everyone’s faces. 

Educational Toys: Educational toys among little ones are great for both fun and education. Building blocks, puzzles, or simple science kits turns playtime into an educational journey, at the same time encouraging teamwork and improving their problem-solving skills. The sense of accomplishment that they’ll get after completing their tasks will also encourage them to partake more, sparking curiosity and a love for discovery.

Shared Experiences: A trip to the beach, or a fun day at the park can be a fascinating adventure, allowing them to explore and discover together. Museums, especially the ones specialised for children, offer hands-on opportunities that make the trip both fun and educational. Taking your little ones on amusement park trips also provides endless excitement with many activities, creating an unforgettable day full of fun and laughter. 

Books: Books are wonderful for both creating a love for reading and creating another way of sharing stories between our little ones. Gifting each other books to enjoy together, or exchanging books to talk about later on provides them with many communication opportunities, keeping their bond strong. Interactive baby books can engage their senses and make reading even more fun and memorable. Developing their reading and cognitive skills at the same time as providing them with the most fun adventures, books remain our best friend and a wonderful option for gifting to our loved ones on a special day. 

Art Supplies: The world of colours, what would our kids do without art? Art supplies of various colours and shapes can inspire creativity and self-expression while providing hours of entertainment for cousins on this special day. Crayons with themed colouring books, colouring rolls, art pads, and many more are there for our kids to express themselves, explore their potential and have the most fun in the world of shapes and colours. 

Outdoor Toys: Outdoor activities make for the best memories, and having outdoor toys to accompany them adds more fun to the joyous and exciting world of discoveries. Bubble wands might sound simple but they are magical toys for our kids that can bring endless laughter. Sidewalk chalks create colourful pieces on the pavement, fostering creativity and outer play. Kites made for children are easy for them to handle and can turn a windy day into a fun adventure. Child-sized gardening kits introduce them to the joys of nature and gardening, fostering a love for nature while strengthening their bonds as cousins, and creating joyous memories. 

For everything about play and toys, see our Play & Toys Guide for a comprehensive resource.

Every baby takes their first steps at their own pace, anywhere between 9 and 18 months. It’s a magical time filled with wobbly steps, newfound independence, and of course, immense pride for you as parents! This process involves building balance, coordination, and motor skills, and we’re here to help you make it fun with 6 play suggestions!

Let’s Get Playing: 6 Fun Games to Support Walking

Fun Activity Table

Set up a safe table at just the right height for your baby, loaded with their favourite toys. The more enticing the toys, the more effort your baby will put into standing to reach them. This will help strengthen their leg muscles and support their walking development. Remember, use a table and toys free of sharp edges, and always supervise your baby to prevent falls.

Basket Bonanza

Grab a washing basket or toy box and fill it with colourful balls, socks, or soft toys. Encourage your baby to toss things in, then have them pick them up and take them out again. This active and challenging play helps develop hand-eye coordination, balance, and coordination skills – all essential for walking!

Bubble Party

Who can resist bubbles? This timeless activity is a guaranteed giggle-fest for babies of all ages. Blow bubbles and watch your little one chase and try to pop them. The Bubble Party play is a delightful way to encourage walking as your baby tries to keep up with the floating bubbles.

Animal Rescue

Here’s a fun twist on hide-and-seek! Stick small toys on a window or wall using tape. Place your baby in front of the “rescue zone” and have them save the day by retrieving all the stuck toys. This play strengthens both small (fine motor skills) and gross motor skills (balance), while also introducing cause-and-effect and problem-solving skills.

Where Could It Be?

Turn playtime into a mini treasure hunt! Hide toys or familiar objects around the room in plain sight. Spark your baby’s curiosity with prompts like “There was a truck, where could it be?” or “Let’s find the little bear!” When they discover the hidden treasures, encourage them to bring them to you – a perfect opportunity to practice those walking skills! This game not only encourages movement but also develops exploration and attention skills, with the added bonus of language development through your playful instructions.

Hands Full!

Sometimes the simplest things can be the most helpful. Even everyday activities can be a chance to build walking skills. When your baby is standing or holding onto furniture (or you!), give them toys to hold in both hands. This will encourage them to use their body and leg muscles more to maintain balance. Plus, having something to hold onto can boost their confidence and make them feel more secure while standing for longer periods.

Perfect Toys to Support Walking 

Walking aids, push-along toys, first-step cars, and activity centres are all great options to consider. Remember, adult supervision is essential whenever your baby is using walking aids or toys to support their walking journey.

May your baby’s first steps lead to countless adventures.

Happy exploring!

The swimming season is around the corner! Are you excited to jump into the pool and start swimming with your kids? During your trips to the pool, whether your little one is just getting started on swimming or is already a fish in the water, having the right equipment can double the fun! From goggles to floaties, let’s dive in and discover together the must-haves of swimming for your kids that will help them have a delightful time and become the best swimmer that they can be, all while staying safe and comfortable.

Swimsuits and Swim Nappies

Swimsuits and swim nappies are essential for your children to have a fun and safe swimming experience. As it can make a great difference in their adjustment to water and swimming, It is important that your children have swimsuits that fit properly and are comfortable. The swimsuit should have a snug fit so that it stays in place and does not slide off during swimming or play. For your little ones, swim nappies are crucial before their potty training to prevent any accidents in the pool, ensuring a clean and hygienic swimming experience. A good swimsuit and a reliable swim nappy can provide comfort and boost confidence, allowing kids to focus on enjoying their time in the water and helping them improve their swimming.

Swimming Aids

Swimming aids are fantastic tools to help young swimmers build confidence and improve their skills in the water while ensuring their safety. Floats, kickboards, and armbands are popular aids that provide buoyancy and support while children learn to swim, or simply enjoy their time in the water. These aids help children feel more comfortable and secure in the water, allowing them to focus on developing proper technique. As your children improve their swimming skills, you can gradually reduce their reliance on swimming aids. However, always supervise your children closely when using swimming aids to ensure their safety in the water.

Goggles & Swim Cap

Goggles and swim caps are the must-haves of any young adventurer who loves swimming. Goggles not only protect your little ones’ eyes from chlorine but also help them see clearly underwater, making swimming more fun and helping improve their technique. If your little adventurer is new to swimming, goggles can boost their confidence by letting them explore the underwater world without hurting their eyes or causing any other discomfort. For children with longer hair, a swim cap or a hair band is essential for keeping hair out of their faces, preventing distractions and making it easier to focus on swimming. Additionally, swim caps reduce drag in the water, helping your child swim more smoothly and efficiently.

Toys

Make pool time even more exciting by bringing along some pool toys! Pool floats, swim rings, and splash balls are just a few options that can add excitement to your children’s quality time in the water. These toys can help improve swimming skills, encourage active play, and spark creativity as they bring fun to the pool. Plus, sharing pool toys with friends can make swimming even more enjoyable for your kids as they socialise. Just keep in mind to choose toys that are suitable for your child’s age and swimming ability. With the right pool toys, each pool day is an adventure!

Shower Supplies

Swimming, and playing in a chlorinated pool can often leave your children’s sensitive skin and hair feeling dry, which can damage them when not frequently taken care of. To protect your children’s skin, and to keep their hair as shiny and healthy as ever, remember to bring shower essentials with you when planning a trip to the pool or the beach. Pack shampoo, conditioner, body wash, and moisturiser to cleanse and hydrate your kid’s skin and hair after swimming. A wet brush is particularly convenient for detangling their hair with ease, making it especially useful for your child’s hair. With the right shower supplies, you can wash away the chlorine and keep your baby’s skin and hair soft and smooth.

Water

Keep in mind that swimming is a form of exercise, and staying hydrated is essential, especially when you are spending hours under the heat with your kids and family. Bring a water bottle to ensure your child drinks plenty of water before, during, and after swimming. Dehydration can happen without you even realising it, even in the water, because the body loses fluids through sweat and exertion. Encourage your kids to take regular sips of water to keep their energy levels up and avoid feeling thirsty. Proper hydration helps maintain overall health and improves performance in the pool. By keeping a water bottle handy, you can make sure your child stays hydrated, refreshed and ready for more swimming fun.

Towel

Always bring a towel to the pool deck. It will help keep your child warm when they want to take a break from swimming or playing, preventing them from getting too chilly and catching a cold in the middle of summer. Towels also come in handy for drying off quickly, which helps avoid creating water puddles that can be a slip-and-fall hazard. Having a dry, cosy towel ready ensures your child feels comfortable and safe after swimming. Plus, it makes transitioning from the pool to getting dressed much easier and more pleasant.

Lock

Don’t forget to bring a combination or key lock with you to secure your personal items in the locker room. Using a lock ensures that valuable items like your cell phone, purse, and wallet are kept safe and secure while you’re having fun with your child. It’s best to store these belongings in a locked, dry area to prevent any loss or damage. By locking up your items, you can enjoy quality time with your family with peace of mind, knowing your possessions are free from harm.

Snack

Kids love snacking, especially after swimming. Pack a healthy and fun treat for them to enjoy to keep their energy levels up. A nutritious snack like a piece of fruit, an oat bar, or some yoghurt can help replenish their energy and keep them satisfied until their next meal. Snacks also help you keep them entertained while they are restoring their energy and excitement to go back to playing. Bringing a snack also prevents post-swim hunger from making them cranky. With a tasty and healthy treat ready, your child will feel refreshed and happy after their time in the pool.
 

Sandals 

Footwear that is easy to slide on and off is paramount for walking around the pool. A proper pair of sandals or water shoes will help prevent slipping on wet surfaces, thus preventing any unwanted incidents from happening. These shoes are designed to provide good traction, keeping your child safe as they play around the pool area. Additionally, wearing sandals or water shoes can protect their feet from hot surfaces and any potential debris. With the right footwear, your child can comfortably and safely enjoy their time at the pool and create many happy memories. 

Bag

A proper bag to place all of your items in is a must for ensuring comfort at the pool. Pack a comfortable outfit for your child to change into after they are ready to take a break, ensuring they stay cosy and dry as they replenish their energy. Pack additional bags for wet swimsuits and towels to keep your bag dry and organised. Utilising these bags not only helps maintain the cleanliness of your gym bag but also stops any moisture from seeping into other belongings. With everything neatly packed in your pool bag, you can easily transport your items to and from the pool without any extra work.

Fingerplay, played using the hands and fingers, often accompanied by a story or song, offers numerous benefits for babies and children’s development.

Fingerplay is a fun and educational activity that supports children’s development in various ways, including language, motor skills, social-emotional skills, and cognitive development.

Language Development

• Strengthen language skills: Fingerplays involve movements that help develop language skills and vocabulary. For example, in the “Frogs” fingerplay, the word “jump” is used while making a jumping motion.
• Learn new words: Many fingerplays include words encountered in daily life, helping babies expand their vocabulary. For instance, in the “Ten Little Fingers” fingerplay, babies learn words like “thumb,” “index finger,” and others.
• Improve speech skills: Participating in fingerplays motivates babies to speak and aids in their speech development.

Motor Development

• Strengthen hand and finger muscles: The movements in fingerplays help develop hand and finger muscles.
• Develop hand-eye coordination: Following fingerplay movements improves hand-eye coordination.
• Enhance fine motor skills: Fingerplays help babies develop fine motor skills by requiring them to hold and move small objects.
• Support gross motor skills: Some fingerplays involve using feet and bodies and they support the development of gross motor skills.

Social and Emotional Development

• Promote interaction: Fingerplays are usually played with others and they encourage interaction and bonding.
• Teach emotions: Fingerplay can help babies understand and empathise with different emotions.
• Support social skills: Fingerplays help babies socialise and communicate with others.
• Encourage self-expression: Fingerplays provide a platform for babies to express themselves and develop their talents, boosting self-confidence.

Cognitive Development

• Learn concepts: Fingerplays often include stories and songs that teach concepts like numbers, shapes, colours, and sizes.
• Boost imagination and creativity: Fingerplays that involve imagining different situations support cognitive development.

When Choosing Fingerplays:

• Consider your baby’s age and development.
• Choose plays that attract your baby’s attention.
• Select plays that are entertaining.

You can enhance fingerplays with finger and hand puppets, and by using stories and songs creatively.

We hope you incorporate fingerplays into your daily routine to strengthen the bond with your baby, enjoy quality time together, and contribute to their development and skills.

In this article, we discuss how play contributes to development, its educational benefits, its role in advancing imagination, and its impact on secure attachment. We also recommend age-appropriate toys for children aged 0-4 years.

You can download our “Play & Toys Guide” here.

Play Stages 

• Stage 1: I meet
• Stage 2: I explore
• Stage 3: I learn
• Stage 4: I socialise

Stage 1: I meet

In the first three months after birth, your baby begins to adapt to the new world. Movements are still reflexive as they gradually become familiar with their body, increasing awareness and control. By around four months, your baby will further develop their senses and ability to grasp objects.

Play is essential for babies to learn about their environment. They shake, mouth, and examine objects with their hands. Suitable toys include rattles, teething toys, large balls, and soft toys. Babies also love mirrors, though they typically recognise themselves around 18 months. An unbreakable baby mirror is a great choice, making tummy time enjoyable and aiding visual development.

From 4 to 6 months, babies may start to sit with support. By 9 months, they can usually sit unaided and begin crawling and standing while holding on to something. Ride-on cars help strengthen leg muscles and encourage first steps. Musical toys with colourful lights and large ring toys are also engaging and beneficial.

Between 6 and 12 months, babbling begins, marking an important phase in language development. Babies may use simple but meaningful words around their first birthday. Reading board books about colours, objects, and numbers is a wonderful activity. Your baby may try to repeat short words, enhancing their language skills.

Ideal Toys for Your Baby

• Playmats
• Rattles
• Soft toys
• Teething toys
• Large balls
• Unbreakable baby mirrors
• Musical toys with colourful lights
• Large ring toys
• Board books about colours, objects, and numbers

Click here to check out suitable toys for 0-12 months!

Stage 2: I Explore

Babies generally start walking between 12–24 months, allowing them to engage in more active play. Introducing building blocks and puzzles around 18 months is ideal. These toys support the development of problem-solving, concentration, early maths, spatial awareness (perceiving and distinguishing shapes), and motor skills. Additionally, sportscasting or describing the activity contributes to language development.

The age between 0 and 2 is critical for developing a secure attachment. Play allows you to spend quality time with your baby. Around 18 months, your baby reaches an important milestone in social skills, starting to realise that people have different perspectives. For instance, your baby may turn an object towards you when handing it over. This awareness forms the basis for developing empathy.

Generally, opting for toys made of natural wood and water-based paint is advisable.

Ideal Toys for Your Baby

• Building Blocks
• Ride-On Car
• Wooden Puzzles
• Colour Blocks
• Books
• Activity Toys
• Playdough
• Crayons

Click here to check out suitable toys for 1-2 years old!

Stage 3: I learn

Between 24–36 months, your child enters an important learning phase. Most parents start potty training at this age, which may require patience. By age 2, children crave independence, often using words like “no” and “mine.” Embracing this independence positively impacts their self-confidence and self-esteem. When your toddler wants to do something independently or show off their skills, appreciate and encourage them.

Language skills will also flourish during this period. However, you may notice an increase in tantrums and meltdowns due to a lack of impulse control and difficulty expressing needs. Respond to these outbursts with patience and understanding, affirming their emotions while calmly maintaining boundaries.

Play is crucial for development. Children at this age will start engaging in pretend play, creating stories as their imagination flourishes. Acting out social or challenging situations can help them navigate real-life scenarios. Around 24 months, children may physically play together, but true peer engagement often begins around 36 months. By this time, they become aware that each individual has their own goals and intentions, leading to shared imaginative play.

By age 3, your child’s fine motor skills will have matured, allowing them to enjoy building blocks and puzzles with more and smaller pieces. Ensure toys comply with safety age ranges to avoid choking hazards.

Ideal Toys for Your Child

• Rocking Horse
• Wooden Letter Baby Puzzle
• Mini Coordination Play
• Mega Puzzle
• Scooters
• Swimming Aids
• Outdoor Toys
• Pretend Play Sets
• Puppets
• Balls

Click here to check out suitable toys for 2-3 years old!

Stage 4: I socialise

Your Role and the Educational Side of Play  

As previously mentioned, curiosity and learning drive play. Babies naturally possess this instinct, and with the right guidance, parents can nurture this journey of discovery. Firstly, you should avoid excessive intervention during play. When you intervene, make decisions for your baby, or “corrects” the play, it diminishes the developmental benefits. Frequent interruptions can distract your baby and cause boredom. Research shows that excessive intrusiveness may lead to issues with accepting change, self-control, and intrinsic motivation later in life.

What can you do instead?

Demonstrate how an activity is done while describing your actions. After that, you should avoid frequent interventions. If necessary, give a few brief instructions, ensuring you don’t disrupt your baby’s focus. You can show appreciation for your baby’s efforts rather than the outcome, saying things like, “You’re showing such concentration” or “I can see you’re working hard to build this tower.” This helps build confidence and self-esteem.

Utilise “child-led play” as a learning tool. You should allow your child to take the lead and add an educational touch to the play. For example, if you want to teach colours and your child wants to build a tower, you can say, “Now, let’s add the red block” or “What colour is this block? Red!” Studies show this method enhances language development as play provides context for understanding, making it easier for children to learn the meaning of words.

Gradually lead your baby into new developmental stages by using a step-by-step approach, continually offering plays that challenge them. Once your baby has mastered a specific skill or play, let them continue without your support. Then introduce a new play that requires learning a new skill, offering support as needed. You should avoid continuing to support skills your baby has already mastered, but follow your baby’s pace.

1. My child loves fighting play. Will they become violent in the future?

Play is a vital tool for children to learn about life. Play-fighting (wrestling, jumping, running, tickling, etc.) does not lead to future violence; instead, it has positive effects. Confrontational play helps children control aggressive impulses, improves social skills, and makes them aware of their physical abilities and limits.

Children also gain experience in self-defence, handling conflict, winning and losing, sharing, and changing roles. Such plays support secure attachment. Encouraging your child (“let’s try to jump higher,” “let’s try to run faster,” etc.) builds independence and self-confidence. You can help strengthen your child’s self-control by setting limits, such as “no biting,” “no throwing,” and “no hitting,” and guide your child in calming down and ending the play. You should ensure the environment is safe by removing any breakable or dangerous objects. If someone accidentally gets hurt and starts crying during play-fighting, it is best to end the play.

To distinguish a play-fight from a real one, you can look for these signs: During a real fight, a child will frown, cry, get flustered, and try to overpower their opponent. In contrast, play-fighting involves laughter, role changes, and allowing the other side to win. If you think your child is getting into real fights often, you may want to seek professional support.

2. My child is not sharing their toys. What should I do?

It’s completely normal for toddlers not to share their toys. Around the age of 2, children are developing their sense of individuality. At this stage, toddlers often engage in “parallel play,” playing side by side with different toys rather than interacting directly. By age 3, children typically become more open to sharing, and as caregivers, we can encourage this. Children learn by observing and imitating. While playing, you can talk to your child about sharing, taking turns, and exchanging toys, demonstrating how to do this. Patience is key, as teaching children to share requires repetition and consistency.

3. My baby is constantly breaking their toys. Is this normal? What can I do?

It’s quite common for young children to break toys. This can happen for various reasons, including curiosity and exploration. Children at this age may throw, hit, or bend toys to see what happens, sometimes resulting in breakage. If a toy is broken, it doesn’t always mean it needs to be discarded. Toys can often be used in new, creative ways.

However, always check that the toy remains safe to play with, ensuring there are no sharp edges or loose parts that could pose a hazard. Providing toys designed for disassembly and reassembly, like building blocks, can satisfy your child’s curiosity without leading to breakage.

If your child breaks toys out of aggression, this might be a form of confrontational play, which is normal as long as it doesn’t harm them or others. However, if you feel your child’s aggression is extreme, it’s important to seek professional advice. Aggressive behaviour can sometimes be an expression of difficult emotions.

4. How can I end a play? No matter how long or how often we play, my child always wants to continue.

Creating a securely attached relationship does not mean being overly permissive. As a caregiver, you need to set clear boundaries, both for safety and time. For example, if it’s time to go home for a meal, you should uphold this boundary while respecting the importance of the activity for the child.

A play can be highly enjoyable and requires a lot of concentration. Just as adults don’t like to stop an important task abruptly, children feel the same way. Therefore, it’s key to inform your child in advance that the activity will need to end soon. Be as concrete as possible. You can use a timer, count to 30, or use another cue that works for you and your child. If your child is still upset, acknowledge their feelings and offer consolation and support, while maintaining your boundary. This is a natural part of life.

Consistency is important, practice makes perfect.

In conclusion, play is an essential aspect of your baby’s development, fostering cognitive, motor, social, and emotional growth. By understanding the different stages of play and the appropriate toys and activities for each age, you can effectively support your child’s learning journey. Remember to provide a variety of play experiences, allow your baby to explore at their own pace, and engage with them to build trust and strengthen your bond.

Would you like to share your experiences and questions in the comments?

Being a playful parent entails incorporating intentional and connected playtime between children and parents into the parenting style. Playing together not only fosters a fun atmosphere at home but also cultivates a strong and deep bond among family members. Playing as a parent offers endless fun and bonding opportunities for both you and your babies alike.

The Benefits of Play

Play can be described as a combination of both enjoyable and learning experiences, regardless of age. Individual differences come to the forefront during play, resulting in experiences that vary from person to person. Regardless of whether it’s a child or an adult, participation in play offers benefits to the participant:

• Encourages connection and secure attachment.
• Makes children feel wanted and accepted.
• Helps develop cognitive skills.
• Boosts a child’s self-esteem and self-respect.
• Supports communication skills and language development.

The Benefits of Play for Parents

While the benefits of play for parents may vary due to individual differences, its importance and contributions are significant for every adult. Some of these contributions include:

• Increases parents’ happiness levels and reduces stress levels through the release of oxytocin hormone during play.
• Playful parents experience positive emotions such as laughter, enjoyment, and happiness more frequently.
• Playful parents establish a secure attachment with their babies and get to know their babies more closely.
• Just like in children, playing also enhances parents’ problem-solving skills and mechanisms.
• Strengthening of relationships and bonds in the family and social context is also one of the significant contributions of playing for parents.
• Fosters success in interpersonal relationships.
• Lastly, one of the most significant effects of playing on parents is its association with high life satisfaction.

How to Become a Playful Parent

The only thing required to become a playful parent is willingness. Every individual aware of the importance of play and wanting to include it in their life knows the contribution of play to the relationship they establish. However, there are also some prerequisites to becoming a playful parent, such as:

• Not caring about what people think
• Having sense of humour
• Seizing opportunities for play
• Being creative
• Being spontaneous
• Being curious
• Being able to laugh

However, being a playful parent doesn’t mean playing with toys all the time. Being a playful parent is a parenting style that affects daily life and behaviours in the long term. If you wonder “How can I be playful?” you can benefit from our suggestions:

• Jump to the bathroom while brushing teeth.
• Speak rhythmically and sing while talking.
• Use gestures and mimics while reading books.
• When changing nappies, put a clean nappy on your head and be funny.
• Play a guessing game about what’s for dinner.
• Race to see who will go to the door first.
• Guess how many people are in the restaurant.
• Determine a unique way to greet each other.
• Give each other fun nicknames.
• Draw something on your child’s back with your fingers while bathing and ask them to guess what it is.
• Use the shopping cart at the supermarket.
• Use the sock as a puppet and create a story.
• Act like you’re wearing shoes upside down and smile.
• Have a pillow fight and throw yourself to the ground.
• When you go to the park, play with toys with your child.

To be a playful parent, the above suggestions can be diversified. It’s quite easy to include play in daily activities. By smiling and having a bit of fun, developing the skill of being a playful parent filled with laughter and a bit of unusual behavior is possible.

Shop Funny & Educational Toys Here

However, understanding that being a playful parent doesn’t mean saying yes to everything, being permissive, not setting boundaries, or being weak is essential. Being a playful parent means being able to establish a strong bond through play and enjoy life to the fullest.

We wish you to increase your enjoyment of life through play!

So, let’s look at some activities you can do at home with your 1-year-old baby that can help you have fun while also being useful to her development.

Development in 1-Year-Old Babies

Before you learn the best activity options for your baby, it’s a good idea to know what he can accomplish during this time and come up with a few different ideas. You can be much more effective in your activity selections if you understand the skills and physical competencies of a 1-year-old baby and the techniques by which you can contribute to their development.

What can a baby accomplish during this period?

• Can establish a cause-effect relationship.
• Can perform one-word commands such as ‘Fetch!’, ‘Come!’, ‘Get!’
• Can take steps and try to walk with the help of toys
• Can actively use the sense of hearing and touch.
• Can make monosyllabic sounds, may try to say words that are repeated frequently.
• Can put an object in a container.
• Can scribble.
• Can use her hands and fingers.
• Can imitate sounds and movements.

You can also produce new plays for her at home to support these skills.

Simple Activities at Home with a 1-Year-Old Baby

Innovations pique the interest of babies. You’ll be able to both divert and assist her in discovering something new every day by playing various games.

Let’s take a look at what are the activity recommendations for one-year-old.

1. Pillow-Cushion Tent

One of the easiest activities you can easily perform in your living room is setting up a tent.

Try making a tent using pillows and cushions from the house. Use the wide and soft ones as a roof on the bottom and thinner cushions on top. If you take care that your little one is large enough to get in and out of the tent comfortably, you will set up a tent that will not tip over easily and allow it to linger for at least half an hour. Try to walk through this tent with your baby, hide or sit. This new area will interest and entertain her quite a lot.

It is an activity that develops muscles and joints, especially for toddlers or crawling babies.

2. Colourful Bottles

Every colourful and audible object attracts the attention of babies. That is why one of the practical activities that can be applied at home for babies one year or younger is coloured bottles.

Collect plastic bottles of various sizes. Remove and clean the labels on the bottles. Fill each with different coloured products. For example, fill the bottles halfway with materials such as chickpeas, rice, lentils, and beans, which you can easily find in every kitchen. If you want, add water to them and close the lids tightly. Put a blanket on the floor and place the plastic bottles in front of your baby. Take each bottle in turn and shake them to inspect.

Your baby will also follow the different sounds he makes as he examines each image. It will be possible to develop motor skills by holding and shaking, and the baby’s hearing sense with the sounds it makes.

3. Animal Voice Imitation

In this period in which the imitative aspects of babies are at the forefront, you can use your baby’s imitation skills in everyday activities.

Animal photos or miniature animal figures found in infant picture books might be used. Show your infant an animal and then try to imitate its voice. Encourage your baby to follow your lead and replicate the same sound. Even repeat the name of the animal you’re showing, so he becomes familiar with the names.

With this activity, which will activate hearing and speech skills, your little one will learn new words and improve her speaking ability by using her imitation ability.

4. Nested Containers

One of the successful activities that can be tried at home to teach the concept of big and small is the nested containers game.

Select a variety of plates that can be nested in the kitchen. These plates should be as small and weighty as feasible for your baby to hold. (If you don’t have any suitable plates, nested plastic toys can be used instead.) Place the plates in front of your baby and demonstrate how to assemble them. Allow her to help you figure out which plate goes where.

5. Fishing

The activities that babies have the most fun with are always those related to water. They like the sound and feel of the water.

Take a large bucket, basin or basket. Fill it with water. Let the water be at a level that your baby can easily reach from where he sits. Leave objects or light ping-pong balls that will not sink into the water. Give your baby a toy shovel or a bowl. With this shovel, let her collect the objects in the water one by one and transfer them to an empty basket.

With this activity, which will develop hand, arm and grip skills, your baby will also make progress in providing hand-eye coordination.

6. Color Table

The materials you need for this activity; are a large selection of art paper, tube paints of different colours such as gouache or acrylic paint, and cling film.

Take the picture paper and pray paints of various colours on the paper in different places and gently cover the top of the paper with cling film, trying not to scatter the paints.  Wrap the cling film well to the back of the paper and ensure that no paint comes out of the edge. Put this prepared paper in front of your baby and tell or show her to distribute these paints using her hands and fingers.

With this activity, your little one will learn how to use hand muscles and the feeling of accomplishing something. But just in case, don’t forget to put a protective suit over your baby and lay a cover on her seat. If you prefer, when your paper is dry, you can frame it as your baby’s first work.

7. Toy Rescue

Saying to a baby, “Oh! Where was this?” should be the most important sentence and trying to find an object is among the most enjoyable games for babies.

Show your baby an object and a toy. Also, say the name of this object. Then hide it somewhere in your immediate vicinity and ask where the object is. Ask her to find it and bring it. You can easily apply this activity, which effectively establishes cause-effect relationships from time to time during the day.

Every different activity you do with your little one will undoubtedly positively impact their development.  You can contribute to their development by doing a 1-year-old baby activity based on a different sense or skill every day.

Would you like to share your experiences and questions as a comment?

Wishing you well!

So, let’s take a look at plays that are effective in the cognitive development of babies. 

The Importance of Plays in Cognitive Development of Babies

For a baby, almost everything other than feeding and sleeping means to play. Because babies can socialise, perceive and classify new things, and discover themselves and the outside world through play. Because babies can mix, perceive and organise new things, and find themselves and the outside world through play, they play and set up. In addition, the effect of stimuli on cognitive development in infancy is relatively high. Thanks to touching, hearing and visual interaction, the connections between the neurons of the baby’s brain are strengthened and developed.

In short, the lack of incentives negatively affects cognitive development and affects the baby’s abilities such as speaking, making friends, expressing herself and her feelings in the future. Plays and toys help the baby interact with these stimuli by comparing them. For this reason, the quality of the play and chosen toys are essential factors for every baby.

11 Supportive Plays for Cognitive Development

The Where Play

Take a toy or object your baby likes and show it to her. Then hide the object under a blanket and ask, “Where?”. Then lift the cover and find the thing. Play again to get her to see the toy in the same way. Hide the toy under the covers and wait for it to find it. Make sure that she finds it herself by making small interventions where you need them. Thus, with the where game, you can enable the baby to establish a cause-effect relationship and realise how a lost object has returned.

Puppet Play

Obtain finger puppets (such as animal or human figures) of various characters and colours and attach them to your fingers. Talk, chat and sing songs with the help of these puppets in front of your baby. Let the baby recognise animals by imitating animal sounds with animal figure puppets. Telltales with human figures and put them in various roles.

Flashcards Play

Obtain flashcards that are suitable for your baby’s month. These cards should have a wide variety of vegetables, fruits, animals, shapes, items, colours and vehicles. Then take a card in front of your baby and say it a few times, emphasising the name of the thing on the card. Create stories using these words in different contexts. Thus, you can help both increase the vocabulary and strengthen the visual memory.

Puzzle Play

Get a variety of puzzles with different numbers and large pieces to suit your baby’s age. Together try to place the puzzle piece in the appropriate place. Let your baby learn by trying. Develop problem-solving skills with puzzles to concentrate and extend her concentration-time with each attempt. 

Wrist Rattles Play

Lay your baby on her back on a flat surface. Wear rattle wristbands on her wrists and ankles. Then started chatting and singing with her in a soft and melodious voice. Turn on some fun baby music if you wish. Support her to shake her hands and feet according to the rhythm of the music. Your baby will understand that she can make sounds as she moves, thanks to the rattles on her wrists. This play, especially for 1-2-month-old babies, supports your baby’s cognitive development while developing the sense of rhythm and encouraging establishing a cause-effect relationship. 

Sensory Integration Play 

Use different materials for sensory integration play, which helps babies feel and grasp different textures such as soft, hard, rough, smooth and wet, in addition to objects such as a damp towel, aluminium foil, a jagged ball, chickpeas, bead pasta or granulated sugar in zip lock bags. You can either lay your baby face down and place the materials in front of her, or lay the materials you have chosen on a table and let her touch them while your baby is on your lap.

Separating Balls Play

Put balls of the same size in different colours in a basket. Put it side by side the containers or boxes of the same colour as the balls. Ask your baby to put the ball from the basket in the appropriate coloured box. In this way, have her classify the balls by colour. You can help your baby develop classification skills with the play of sorting the balls. 

Peek-a-boo Play

One of the favourite plays of babies of all ages is “Peekaboo”. Babies can have fun and have a pleasant time and learn to make connections between events by understanding the concepts of hiding and finding. Stand in front of your baby and cover your face with your hands. Then saying peekaboo, open your hands. Try to entertain your baby by making different facial expressions as you open your face. 

Chatting Play with Songs

Music and songs have a significant effect on the cognitive development of babies. Therefore, no matter how old your baby is, describe everything you do during the day as if you were singing with different melodies that you made up. Tell your baby melodiously about her daily life when she wakes up, eats, takes a bath, and plays games.

Pompoms Rescue Play

Get a basket with holes. Put various pompoms of different colours and sizes in the basket. After putting the pompoms in your hand, take a not very thin and non-breaking yarn and randomly pass it through the basket’s holes. Create a simple maze inside the basket. Then put the basket in front of your baby and ask her to pull the pompoms out of the strings. With this game, you can help your pup find different solutions to save the pompoms. In addition, you can play by using a ball instead of a pompom if you wish.

Find-Plug Play

Get your baby a cube with square, circle, triangle, and star shapes. Put the pieces that can pass through these shapes in front of your baby mixedly and ask her to pass the appropriate amount from the rightful place. Thus, encourage your baby to establish hand-eye coordination while learning geometric shapes.

Would you like to share your experiences and questions as a comment?

Have a nice and healthy day!