Play Guide - Social and Emotional Development 1 - 2 years
Toddlers are much more emotional than babies, he now knows his own mind and boy do you know it. As he approaches the ’terrible twos’ he might become more and more wilful and obstinate, however, by the same token this period is one during which he will show you enormous love.
To help you in your interactions with him in these twelve months, particularly on the social and emotional front, here are some day to day tips :
Don’t pander to his moods- Pay attention to behaviour you want to encourage - not to behaviour you would rather discourage. Remember he’ll do almost anything to get your attention so if you give him that when he’s moody, he’ll do it more often.
Eat together as a family- go on outings. Make clear to him that you are a special social unit.
Test if he recognises himself- Put some lipstick on a finger (or your lips) and smudge it onto his forehead while he is not looking. Hold him in front of the mirror. Does he reach for his forehead? If he does, he is now realising the person in the mirror is the same person that you talk to.
Games
* Song of love *
Build the emotional bond between you by sharing a loving song or two in quiet muments. Touch is very important so as you sing stroke or soothe him.
* A book to share *
Cuddle up together and read a book. This is great on all levels. It helps with social and emotional development as well as building an early love of books.
* A toy to share *
He plays all the time, but make sure you take the time to join in, if he’s playing with his toy kitchen ask if you can have a cup of tea.
* Chase a baby *
He can now walk so crawling becomes a fun time activity. Get down on hands and knees and chase him about.
* Feed a baby *
Practicing to nurture and care for others is often one of the earliest pretend games. Encourage him to care for his teddies or dolls, feeding them with bowl and spoon, or putting them to bed. This kind of play is great for social and emotional development as it helps him to put himself in others shoes and think about someone elses needs.
* If you’re happy and you know it *
Enjoy action rhymes together, they’re great fun!
One of the best is “If You’re Happy and You Know It!” You just can’t help but be happy!
If you’re happy and you know it clap your hands.
If you are happy and you know it clap your hands
If you’re happy and you know it and you really want to show it
If you’re happy and you know it clap your hands.
If you’re happy and you know it stamp your feet
If you’re happy and you know it stamp your feet
If you’re happy and you know it and you really want to show it
If you’re happy and you know it stamp your feet
* Hippity hoppity *
Activities and play that you do together are great for stimulating social and emotional development, because these games reinforce the bond between you, helping him to feel safe and secure in the knowledge that you care.
When out for a walk you could both
Creep like a mouse
Hop like a rabbit
Trot like a horse.
Or he could go on your back while you carry out the actions!
Games and Activities to stimlulate mobility 1–2 years
Most babies will start this year on their feet, even if they are not walking independently yet. They will finish this year confident walkers
Games
* Toy Box *
Walkers are great for this stage, she has all the strength in her legs, but doesn’t quite have the balance. From about 19 months, she’ll also enjoy pull along toys – ask her to take her pull along doggy for a walk!
* Baby’s crawling! *
When she is able to walk, crawling then becomes a fun activity. Play games of crawling around the furniture, up and down slopes and through tubes made from old boxes or tunnels.
* Puddle stamp *
A much-loved game for a really wet day. Just get out your waterproofs and wellies, find a puddle and stamp in it.
* Races *
Once she is moving with confidence she will enjoy a race. She doesn’t need anyone to race against, you just need to say the magic words READY STEADY GO!
* Let’s kick *
By the time she is two she will be able to kick and throw a ball - but only from a standing position and not with any great accuracy. Play kicking games in the garden.
* Move to the music *
Put on some great music and enjoy a dance together
Choose different styles of music. As you enjoy the different styles, encourage her to dance in different ways too.
By her first birthday your baby is pointing and her hands have become quite skilled at handling objects. She can pick up and put down and place things more or less where she wants them. The major advance in this year is the development of her wrist bones, these allow her to twist her hand and place things more accurately.
Games
* Toy Box *
She is making great progress with dexterity so give her toys that will help encourage this. Look out for:
- Shape sorters
- Blocks
- Simple puzzles
- Toys with doors to hide things behind
- Toy phones
- Stackers
* Scotble *
Give her a crayon and let her scotble to her hearts content
* Play Dough *
Give her play dough and let her squeeze it through her fingers. By two she might like to cut it too with a plastic knife.
* Water and sand *
Pour it - soft sand can be poured like water. Let her play with both. She will need a jug, some cups, maybe something to stir with.
Capture It - water flows easily into and out of containers that you dip in to it. The same actions work with sand - but this must be scooped up and does not spill as easily.
Float on it - Everything sits on top of the sand – but some things sink into the water.
Stick to it - Sand sticks to her hands and so does water. But only water soaks into her sleeves.
Mould it – when sand and water are mixed they can be moulded. Give her shapes to press into the sand and help her make sand castles. Water eventually sinks into the sand- but will stay for a short time on the surface. Let her explore this.
* Stackers *
Collect boxes large and small and pile them one on top of the other.
You can also try stacking one inside the other.
At this age she will be extremely curious and will want to explore everything and everywhere, including every nook and cranny of your house so he’ll be sure to keep you on your toes! Play games to stimulate her growing sense of wonder and her love of discovery. )
Frozen Fun
This is a simple exploratory game for bath-time.
* Make a tray of ice cubes – if you have a fancy shaped one even better and you can also add food colouring to make the shapes even more interesting.
* Drop them into the bath
* They will float at first and then gradually disappear with the warmth of the water.
* Talk about what’s happening, to your baby this will seem like magic but they will be learning a little science at the same time!
Little fishes
This is another simple bath game to help her discover what happens to some objects in water.
* Cut little fishes from shiny paper (magazine covers are best) drop these into the bath.
* Explore what happens when she splashes (they should float)
* Explore what happens when she pours water on them (they should sink)
Finger painting
An early painting task which will encourage her to learn that she can make things happen.
* This is a messy one so make sure you protect the floor and baby!
* You need some thickened paint in a pot with a hole big enough for her finger.
* Show her how to dip her finger in and encourage her to make marks on paper
Tip:
*How to thicken paint*
To make your own thickened paint, put a desert spoon of flour into a saucepan with a little water, whisk, bring to the boil and add a little food colouring.
For an older child, you could make this in the same way but add powder paint rather than food colouring.
Taking a print
This game is another messy one so take care to protect the floor and clothing. This game is particularly good for playing with younger and older siblings together as it is great fun!
* You need thickened paint in two different colours (see above for how to thicken paint)
* Put two or three dollops of each colour in a plastic plate or tray
* Give your baby a spoon to stir the two together, they will form a great messy mixture that has bits of both colour and some where the colour has changed so for example you might red, yellow and orange shades
* Take a piece of clean paper and place over the top of the paint to make a print of the colour mixture (if you’re also playing with older siblings you might let them do this bit themselves!)
Paper balls
This game is very basic and helps teach her about distance and space.
At this age a ball is easier to throw if she throws it underhand and can get a firm grip. If he is throwing in the house she needs something that will not do any serious damage. Newspaper balls are ideal.
Make balls out of newspaper and encourage her
* To throw them into a chair
* To throw them into a news paper basket
My drawer
When your baby is this young, she’ll love playing very close to you, and because she is this close to you, you’ll naturally talk to them more which is great. This game features opening and closing, emptying and filling – a big favourite for toddlers.
* Put some toys in a low drawer (could be in the bedroom or kitchen perhaps)
* Cut out your baby’s initial letter and stick it to the front of the drawer
* He can now play at emptying and filling this drawer whenever he wants to
* That’s all there is to it, easy play possibilities are everywhere!
Push me pull me
Making something you can play with gives a real sense of achievement and ’I can do it’ which, in turn, builds confidence for learning. This simple craft activity also helps develop hand-eye co-ordination.
* Give her a plastic jar or bottle and some pasta
* Her job is to put the pasta in the jar and then put on the lid ( she might need some help here!)
* Tie some string around the jar top for her and show her she can now pull it along and make noise!
* If you have a grassy bank outside you can also play at rolling it down the hill.
The changes in his strength and mobility in his first year are extraordinary. From a helpless newborn baby, by his first birthday he will be showing all the signs of taking his first step.
From No Control To Head Control:
*1-4 Weeks*
If you use your baby’s arms to pull him up from a lying to sitting position, his head completely falls behind his body.
*8-10 Weeks*
Now, if you pull him up from a lying to a sitting position, his head does not completely fall behind his body.
*16-20 Weeks*
When you hold him he can turn his head in all directions. If he is pulled up from lying to sitting, his head only slightly falls behind his body.
*24-28 Weeks*
He can now lift his head spontaneously when on his back or tummy and tucks his chin to his chest when you pull him upright. He can begin to enjoy action rhymes. Pull him up and let him fall back down as you sing:
Row, row row your boat,
Gently down the stream
Merrily, merrily ,merrily, merrily.
Life is but a dream.
From Feeling His Feet To Standing:
*1-15 Weeks*
He is quite passive and does not try to bounce when you let him 'feel his feet' by standing on your lap.
*16-24 Weeks*
He begins to push up by raising his buttocks but cannot yet hold himself up without your help. He will enjoy a game of Dance To Your Daddy whilst he stands on your lap. Sing:
Dance to your Daddy, my little Laddie.
Dance to your Daddy, my little Man.
You will have a fishy,
On a little Dishy. You will have a fishy,
When the boats come in.
*36-44 Weeks*
If you hold him up, he will lower his legs to find the floor and push down and he will stand in a more upright position if you support him. Children who really enjoy being upright will love to stand and jump in a bouncer.
* 48-52 Weeks*
He stands erect when holding on to the furniture or your hand and, by the time he turns one, he can probably stand for a mument or two without holding on. He may be among the few that can walk at this age.
Playing games and having fun with your child will really help him to learn and is also a fantastic way for you to build your relationship with him. You’ll love every minute of his company and will collect memories to last a lifetime. Here’s how:
* Watch him when he’s playing on is own. This way you’ll get hints of what he needs, what he enjoys and what will help him learn new skills.
* Always choose toys appropriate to his age and that match his stage of development. Age limits are set by child development experts for both safety and developmental reasons.
* Follow his cues to be creative and resourceful, without dominating, and let him dictate the pace. If he starts to lose interest he’s probably had enough so stop and resume your play when he seems interested again.
* Create time for him to enjoy playing. He learns best through play and he will learn best in an environment that allows him time to explore, investigate and discover things.
* Keep an eye on him. He will like to see you nearby just as much as you need to supervise him. Provide him with a safe, hazard-free play space indoor and
outdoors.
* Regularly check his toys are safe to play with as they will receive a lot of use and abuse! Encourage him to play with toys that suit the space where your child will be playing and anticipate potential dangers, such as trying to carry a large toy upstairs.
* Surround him with a variety of toys to hold his attention and encourage his learning in both active and quiet times, and when he is playing alone or with other children.
* Limit the number of toys he plays with at any one time. If he is playing with one toy the others will distract him and it is easier for him to concentrate and pay attention to one activity at a time. If he gets another toy out, tell him to put another one away.
Sand is a wonderful substance for experiments. When it is dry it flows like water, when wet you can mould it - and when very wet it forms a slurry and flows. You can run a stick through it to leave a temporary trail. It can be used to build castles, or roads for his cars. In fact it’s the perfect “I made that happen toy” for a small child.
The beach
The beach offers so many opportunities it is hard to know where to start!
* A hole to sit in. If he is not quite sitting firmly dig him a small hole and wedge his bottom. He will be able to sit- but put towels all around him so he does not eat the sand.
* Make sand castles. Fill buckets and upturn them or simply pile up the sand and mould into walls. A little wet sand dribbled over the walls makes it look a bit creepy. Decorate with sea weed, lollipop sticks and shells.
* Make a sea wall. Best played when the tide is coming in. Dig a hole for him to sit in, make a wall around it, and pile up the sand to stop the sea encroaching.
* Make holes and channels from the waters edge up the beach- when the waves reach the channel the water flows.
* Dig channels from rock pools and watch the water flow.
* Slide down banks of soft sand
In the garden
It is possible to buy sand pits with lids. Do cover it when not in use to ensure no stray bits of rubbish or stones get in. Do not use sharp sand (as the name suggests the grains are sharp). It is possible to buy finer soft sand by the bag.
* Make sand castles – give him bucket and spade or different household containers like Tupperware tubs
* Make rake patterns – have a game of making patterns with a rake or other objects.
* Make roads – use a tool or stick to make roads in the sand for his cars
* Pouring -Scoop it up and pour it in lumps from a jug.
* Mixing - Mix water with sand to make a slurry and pour this from a jug.
In the house.
There are lots of ways for creative play with sand indoors, you can use ordinary fine sand, or buy coloured sands, or even just use similar substances such as sugar.
* Touching – Sand or sugar feels good for him just to run his hands through.
* Pouring – Sand or sugar can be poured through a funnel. This is great fun and is also great for developing his dexterity as he gains control of his wrists.
* Making Pictures – Give him a tray and then fill a bag with sand or sugar. If you seal it with an elastic band and then snip a small corner off, he can play at pouring it out and make sand pictures on the tray.
* Weighing – Weigh sand with scales, is wet sand heavier or lighter than dry?
* Sand in water - A spoonful of sand can be added to water and stirred- the grains swim around and colour the water but some settles at the bottom, if more sand is added he makes a slurry that can be poured and which will flow into interesting shapes..
Whether in the bath or garden, water is great for play. Here are some games to inspire you.
Bath-time
*Bubble bath*
This is a simple science game for children of various ages that teaches them to be observant.
Run a bath and add some bubble bath
Young babies will just enjoy making bubbles by kicking and splashing.
From 12 months he’ll enjoy seeing what happens if he uses soap or adds a little oil to his bubble bath (his bubbles disappear).
From about 2 years let him explore away, or play with a bubble maker.
Do the bubbles burst when they land on other bubbles? Do they burst when they land on the water?
*Little boats*
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This is a simple game for a young child that allows him to discover how to make things move
Have a collection of objects that can double as 'boats'. Lolly sticks, corks or just paper folded will work.
Put the boats in the bath. Show him how to make waves.
What happens if he kicks and splashes?
Play games of boat races.
*Ice science (suitable for 4-5 year olds)*
Make a tray of ice cubes, using a rubber mould with interesting shapes if you can find one - add a little food colouring to the water before pouring it in the mould.
Add small items to the ice cubes - a plastic button, a wooden toggle, a waxy leaf, a metal washer. The idea is that some objects should be heavy enough to pull the ice cube to the bottom of the bath - and others should allow the cube to float.
When the cube melts some of the objects should float (wood, sponge, sequins) while others (thin slices of carrot) should sink.
As he watches the ice cubes will gradually disappear
*Water Fun at the Sink*
Filling and pouring.
This is a simple activity that teaches a child about volume and improves his placing skills and his eye-hand co-ordination.
This is a more demanding pouring game because he needs to aim for the cups.
Show him how to fill a jug by immersing it in the water. Put the cups on the draining board and let him fill them. It doesn’t matter if he is not very accurate at first. Cups are good for this or Tupperware tubs, but you could also try her stacker cup toys, as these are different shapes and colours this will add even more to the game.
Of course you can also try this game in the bath too.
*Washing a doll’s dress*
This is a simple activity that teaches a child to work towards an end – something she will have to do when she starts school.
Partly fill the sink with water (or give her a bowl), add some baby shampoo or bubble bath (better for her skin) and let her wash a dolls dress. Show her how to squeeze the water through the cloth. She can then hang it out to dry.
*Games for the garden hose or tap*
Let him fill his watering can and help with watering the plants
Mud is great fun, let him have fun making mud pies!
Practice carrying and pouring by asking him to fill a bowl on the other side of the garden from the garden tap
You’ve started having proper conversations now! At the start of this stage your baby is probably turning into a talkative toddler, but by the end she’ll have as many as 200 words and there is no stopping her continual chatter!
Talk
* Parentese is the name given to the language parents use when they talk to children- and to the way they talk- using a high pitched voice, simple language and repeating and expanding on what the child says. You will probably do this automatically- but check!
* Talk to him at every possible opportunity. Tell him what you are doing and ask him what he is doing. Use simple language.
* Get down to his level and talk face to face and look away at the things you are talking about.
* Expand his sentences voicing what he is trying to tell you. If he says “Gone” answer “Yes, Daddy has gone to work” with the emphasis on Daddy and Gone.
* Over the next months and years he will gradually expand his language filling in the little gaps. First “Gone” expands to “Daddy Gone” and then perhaps “Daddy gone work” before finally producing the whole sentence.
Play and show
* Play together - use toys as starting points for conversation.
* Talk as you bath, feed and change his nappy.
* Play simple predictable games - like blowing on his tummy as you dry him after the bath. If he knows what is about to happen he is better able to show you that he can join in the interaction.
* Show him things. Get down to his level and talk, when you mention something, look and point to it.
* Read books - both picture books and simple rhyming books.
Rhyme and rhythm
* Rhyme and rhythm emphasises the little sounds that make up words, as he struggles to understand and produce clear sounds hearing your emphasis on rhyming words helps him.
Body parts
Your baby might actually understand the word before she can say it, so you can practice with a simple game of naming.
Where is Molly’s foot?
Yes there’s Molly’s foot
Where is Molly’s nose?
Yes there’s Molly’s nose
Repeating the name – especially when she has shown you that she knows it- rewards her and tells her you understand what she means.
Where is the Dog? – A Naming Game
* Cut out six pictures – one of a dog and five of some other objects she knows the names of,
* Put each in a different envelope and number them 1 – 6
* Ask her to pick an envelope and look inside
* Ask to her to name the object.
Whisper and shout
This game helps her practise using her voice in different ways.
* Whisper in her ear - something secret.
* Let her whisper back to you.
* Shout something loud
* Let her shout back
Tips and Games to keep them entertained while you're on the go!Travelling with children can be difficult at the best of times, but there are plenty of games and activities that you can do to keep them occupied.
Travel By Car
* Before leaving let them have a good run around to let off steam
* Make sure you stop at regular intervals to let off more!
* Take a good supply of story or sing-along tapes
* A story or two that you know to tell
* Take small toys for baby to hold, watch and feel – Link-a-doos will attach to her travel seat.
* A teddy or doll for an older child to cuddle and talk to
* Small or travel sized toys – think about a Travel Doodle Pro or other drawing toy. You could ask them to draw things they have seen on the journey. * Play games like eye-spy that encourage them to look at their surroundings and spot objects.
Travel by Plane
* Before leaving let them have a good run around to let off steam
* During the flight, get out of your seat and have a good walk round
* Take along story tapes and a personal stereo
* Take a selection of books to read.
* A couple of their favourite toys and a teddy cuddle will also come in handy. * Take paper along – this has endless possibilities. You can fold it into shapes or draw on it.
* Play noughts and crosses – a simple choice but good fun and easy to play.
Games for Journeys
* Scissors-paper-stone *
This is a great game as you don’t need any equipment! It’s a classic so you probably know how to play ! It needs two players.
Each of you puts your hand behind your back and counts to three
On three, you both bring your hand back at the same time in one of three positions –
Scissors – forefinger and middle finger ready to snip
Paper – hand flat palm down
Stone – hand in a fist
Scissors beats paper because it can cut it.
Paper beats stone because it wraps it.
Stone beats scissors because it blunts it.
Guessing games
* How many fingers have I got up? Player hides his hand (easy in the car) and the others try to guess how many fingers he has up.
* Eye-spy - One player gives the first letter of the object they are thinking about and the others guess what it is.
* What is the next animal we will see? – play similar with other searches – what colour will the next lorry we see be etc.
* Fill in the word *
Tell the story of what is happening leaving blanks for her to fill in.
“One morning a mummy, a Daddy and a little girl called Anna got up early to go on holiday. Anna had……for her breakfast. Daddy put the ….. in the boot of the car and so on and then Mummy sat in the front seat and …….sat in her car seat.
Look out for:
Car snap- Look for a car like ours.
ABC- our initial on a number plate
* Arms and legs (when travelling through towns) *
This is another classic car journey game. As you travel through towns look out for the names of pubs. How many arms and legs are there on the pub signs? Take it in turns, and if there are no arms or legs on a sign you score zero for that turn.
Because small children remember actions much better than they do words, action rhymes are brilliant.
The actions help the child to remember long songs, they also help draw the child’s attention to the little sounds that make up words – an important pre-reading skill. Action rhymes are a good option for those muments when you might be hanging about with no access to toys, waiting in line, for a bus or on a long journey for example.
This kind of rhyme is great for letting off steam, improving memory and stimulating communication.
From 6 months
*Five little ducks*
The five little ducks are the fingers, five swim away, four come back, four swim away and three come back- and so on until there are no little ducks left! Five little ducks went swimming one day
Over the ponds and far away
Mother duck said quack, quack, quack
But only four little ducks came back
From 9 months
One two three four five
One two three four five
Once I caught a fish alive
Why did you let him go
Because he bit my finger so
Which finger did he bite?
This little finger on the right.
Count out the fingers on the one two- make a biting mouth with the thumb and index finger, then display the little finger of the right hand.
*Incy Wincy spider*
Incy Wincy spider climbing up the spout
Down came the rain and washed the spider out
Out came the sunshine dried up all the rain
And incy wincy spider climed the spout again.
Incy climbs by touching opposite thumb and index finger and alternating fingers and thumbs. The other actions just mirror the words.
From 18 months
*Peter’s hammers*
Peter works with one hammer (Hammer with one fist)
With one hammer, with one hammer
Peter works with one hammer
All day long
*Verses*
Peter works with two hammers (hammer with both fists)
Peter works with three hammers (add one stamping foot)
Peter works with four hammers (add the other foot)
Peter works with five hammers (add the head)
*Row, row, row your boat*
Row, row, row your boat
Gently down the stream
Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily
Life is but a dream.
Children sit facing each other on the floor, hold hands and rock back and forth
*I hear Thunder*
I hear thunder I hear thunder (stamp feet)<
Hark don’t you, hark don’t you (put hand behind ear)
Pitter-patter raindrops (mime)
I’m wet through (point to self)
So are you (point to her)
*I’m a Little Teapot*
I’m a little teapot short and stout
Here’s my handle (Put one arm on hip)
Here’s my spout (Put other arm out like spout)
When I hear the tea cups hear me shout
Tip me up and pour me out (bend to the side in a pouring action)
Getting out and about is really good fun, but it also provides lots of opportunity for learning fun.
* Learning – letters, numbers and counting opportunities are everywhere!
* Social skills – opportunities to interact with other people and their world
* Language – shared experiences will give you lots to talk about for many days afterwards
Shopping
Use the opportunity for learning. Play counting games and practice social skills.
* Look for apples. What colour are they?
* How many sorts of cabbage?
* Look for the numbers of the shopping aisles.
* How many different sorts of tinned tomatoes?
* How many checkouts?
* How many times do you see F for Frankie?
* Let him buy a carton of milk from the corner shop (warn the shop keeper or make sure the shop is empty).
On the way home
* Count the buses.
* Post a letter
* How many animals can you see? Cats, dogs, squirrels, birds, bees, butterflies.
* Spell his name – look for the letters on road signs and cars.
Crossing the Road
Use the opportunity to learn a vital safety skill.
* Stop, look, listen, cross.
* Remember you set the example.
* Always use the crossings on major roads.
In the Park
* Discover colours *
Try to find flowers in all of the colours of the rainbow
* Under the bridge *
Shout under the bridge and listen for the echo. Even better with a tunnel.
Let him put his ear to the wall, and then whisper at the wall. Can he hear you?
Look for bird pooh. Is this where birds sleep at night?
* Make a bark rubbing *
Take some small pieces of paper and a crayon, put the paper against the bark of the tree and scotble over it with a crayon. You will get the pattern of the bark. This will not work with really rough bark.
* Make a bark impression *
Take some play dough or plastecine to make an impression of some bark
If you can’t name the tree, why not take a leaf home and look it up together in a nature book
You could create a nature shelf for him – store his different bark impressions and leaves here, to help him build up a collection.
When your child is still an infant, once he is able to hold his head up, he will love to enjoy a song with you on your lap.
Singing along with songs like this help develop him develop socially and emotionally as he’ll love the comfort of spending this time with you. He’ll also learn about the rhythm in language. Songs that have a jump or action at the end also help him to learn to expect – to know that something is going to happen.
When he is very young, sit him on your knee facing you and hold him around his waist. When he’s a little older you can hold him by the hands.
Jogging on the Knee
For these songs, jog and jiggle him on your knee as you repeat the words.
*Ride A Cock Horse*
Ride a cock horse to Bambury Cross
To see a fine lady get on a white horse
With rings on her fingers
And bells on her toes
She shall have music
Wherever she goes.
*To Market to Market*
To market to market to buy a fat pig
Home again home again jiggity jig
To market to market to buy a fat hog
Home again home again
Jiggity jog.
Rides with a Jog and Surprise!
These songs feature a surprise fall at the end to make him giggle.
*This is the way the ladies ride*
This is the way the ladies ride trip trot, trit trot trip trot
This is the way the gentlemen ride gallup gallup gallup
This is the way the old man rides. Hobble-dee hobble-dee
And down in a ditch
Trot on the knee at varying speeds- then open your knees to let her fall through a little.
*Father mother and uncle John*
Father, Mother and Uncle John
Road to the doctors one by one,
Father fell off Mother fell off
But Uncle John road on and on
Ride on the knee, hold him tightly and let him jog to one side and then the other.
Rides with an Up and a Down
*Leg over leg over*
Leg over leg over
The dog went to dover
When he came to a style
Up he went over
Cross your legs and sit him on the crook of your foot. Hold her hands and jog her up and down – but every time you say 'over' move your foot up and down. She’ll feel like she’s flying!
Sometimes the old ones are the best, a selection of traditional games.
Traditional games have been played and perfected by generations of children for hundreds of years. Some of them are very different from their original form, but many have remained almost the same throughout history. These traditional games help teach children vital skills – the reason they didn’t die out years ago!
*Traditional games help to develop many skills*:
* Social skills – learning to play with other people, taking turns, making friends and also putting yourself in someone else’s shoes.
* Predictive skills – what will he do next? Is he going to drop something?
* Physical skills – turning, dodging and getting lots of exercise * Letting off steam
* Learning ’I can do it’.
Traffic lights
One person says the word of their choice from the list, the others do the appropriate actions - the last one to do it is out (but you can leave this bit out of the game if you want to)
Red means stop
Green means go
Crash means lie flat
Bridge means make an arch on the ground.
Farmer Farmer may we cross?
Farmer farmer may we cross your golden river?
Yes if you are wearing red (or what every colour the farmer decides)
Those in red walk across the rest have to run and avoid the farmer catching them
Red lion
Red lion sits in his den, the rest of the players have a second den which they leave to taunt the lion
Red Lion red lion come out of your den
Whoever you catch can be one of your men
When the chant finishes the red lion chases everyone home, if he touches anyone they must go to his den. Next go they become lions too. The game ends when everyone is a lion.
The Farmers in his Den
One child stands in the middle of the ring while the others walk around singing
The farmers in his den
The farmers in his den E-I-N-G-O
The farmers in his den.
The farmer must then choose someone to join him as the children sing
The farmer wants a wife The farmer wants a wife
E-I-N-G-O
The farmers wants a wife.
Then other children join the central group as the circle sings
The wife wants a child, etc
The child wants a dog etc
The dog wants a bone. Etc
In the last verse everyone pats the bone
We all pat the bone We all pat the bone
E-I-N-G-O We all pat the bone.
Kick the can
This is one of the many variations of tag. The person who is ’it’ has a can or object which he must guard, but must also leave to catch other children. If anyone kicks the can he must return and put it back before he can chase again.
Hiding games
* Hide and seek “It” hides his face and counts to twenty while everyone else hides. Then after shouting “coming ready or not she goes in search of the other players. * Bug in a rug. In this game you race “It” for home if you get there first you are safe.
* Cuckoo – a reversal of normal hide and seek in which one player hides the others seek * Toad in the hole- if you are found, you join the seekers. The game ends when everyone is looking and there is no-one left to find.
Grandmother’s footsteps
This game is for a group of children. One of them is picked to be ’grandmother’. She stands with her back to the rest of the children who line up a few metres behind her.
The group must try to creep up behind grandmother without her seeing them. Every so often, grandmother turns around to look at the group and they must stand perfectly still. IF she sees them move, they must go back to the start.
The first person to touch grandmother’s back without being seen wins and becomes grandmother next time.
Oranges and Lemons
Oranges and lemons say the bells of St Clements
When will you pay me say the bells of Old Bailey When I grow rich Say the bells of Shoreditch
When will that be say the bells of Stepney
I’m sure I don’t know says the great bell of Bow.
Her comes a candle to light you to bed
Here comes a chopper to chop of your head.
Chip Chop chip chop.
Two people make an arch and the rest dance through it in turn singing the song. On the last “chop” the arch catches someone- by dropping there arms down to surround them. They then ask “Orange or Lemon”. Oranges go behind one of the arch makers, lemons go behind the other. When everyone has been caught they have a tug of war.
Like scientists small children investigate and experiment. Many of the activities children love - from rolling balls, scooting around on bikes or playing with bath toys - teach them basic scientific principles (about solids and liquids, forces and acceleration for example) although it will be quite a few years before they can put what they learn into words or understand scientific theories.
Growing
There are lots of things you can grow together from big things to small. Growing things helps him to work towards a goal, builds a sense of achievement and helps him develop his caring and nurturing side.
Cress cross
* Tear off about a dozen pieces of kitchen towel and put them on a plate. Soak the paper by pouring or spooning water onto it.
* Lay a pastry cutter on the paper. Sew the cress seed inside the cutter. Carefully spread the seed out with the back of a spoon making sure it goes right to the edge.
* Lift the cutters. Use a spoon to water the seeds each day.
* Watch the cress grow and when its ready – eat it!
* You can adapt this game to build in letter play – use letter cutters or a steady hand to sew seeds to spell out his name or initials.
Real instant garden
Help him to make his own instant mini garden.
* Take one large plant pot
* Fill with compost or earth
* Give him a selection of things (or help him to find his own) that can be used to construct an instant garden. Use moss for a lawn, mirror for a pond, mini plants that can look like trees and bushes.
Using the scraps
* When preparing vegetables, like carrots, parsnips or beetroot, save the tops.
* Put these in a plate and some water and leave on the windowsill
* Within a couple of days these tops should have shoots.
Big
Children love growing big plants. Especially if they have a measuring stick to see how they are growing. Plant sunflower seeds in pots. Water and care for them and when they are about 4 inches high plant them out into the garden. Measuer them each week. You can try the same with bamboo.
My herb garden
* Buy small herbs pots from the supermarket and grow these together. He can explore his senses with these. He can taste them and smell them.
Nature Play
There is lots to explore when you’re out and about in the countryside or garden. Looking out for tiny details really helps him to learn to pay attention and to look for the detail in things – an important pre-reading skill.
* Footprints. Can you tell which are birds and which are animals?
* Whose had lunch? Look for leaves that have been eaten by small creatures. Can you find the creature near by?
* Look who lives under small logs and stones.
* Look who lives under leaves.
* Look who visits flowers.
* Snail trails.
The kitchen offers a variety of ways to teach your baby a number of skills—everything from language development, to motor skills, to cognitive growth. Let your baby help you cook his first cookie!
Materials:
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Refrigerator cookie dough
•
Rolling pin
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Flour
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Cookie cutters
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Cookie sheet
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Candy sprinkles
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Oven
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Cognitive skills
•
Fine motor development
•
Language development
•
Math and science
What to do: 1.
Roll out refrigerator cookie dough on a lightly floured surface. Let your baby do some rolling, too. 2.
Offer your baby cookie cutters and show him how to press them into the dough. 3.
Place the cut-out cookies on a cookie sheet. 4.
Let your baby sprinkle the cookies with candy decorations. 5.
Bake according to package directions; remove and allow to cool. 6.
Eat your cookies with a glass of milk!
Safety:
Watch your baby in the kitchen at all times to make sure he doesn't cut, prick, or burn himself.
As your baby grows and developments, he enjoys the properties of water in many creative ways—in a bowl, from a hose, or in a bathtub.
Materials:
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An assorment of platic containers
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Plastic figurines
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Freezer
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Bathtub
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Cause and effect
•
Exploration
•
Motor development
What to do: 1.
Place plastic figures into a plastic container. 2.
Fill container with water and freeze. 3.
Fill a bathtub with warm water. 4.
Place your baby in the bathtub. 5.
Remove the ice from the container and drop into the bath. 6.
Let your baby explore the properties of the ice in the water and help him try to figure out what happens as the ice melts.
Safety:
Keep the water warm enough for baby. You may have to add more warm water as the ice cools the water temperature. Watch your baby in the bath at all times.
This treasure hunt will have your baby searching right under her nose. With this game of hide-and-seek, your baby's whole body is a winner!
Materials:
•
20 to 30 paper stickers
•
Paper and pencil
•
Your baby's body
•
Body awareness
•
Fine motor development
•
Object permanence
•
Social interaction
What to do: 1.
Buy a variety of paper stickers that will interest your baby. 2.
Write a list of all the stickers so you can identify them. 3.
Draw an outline of your baby's body on a sheet of paper, both front and back. 4.
Stand your baby in the middle of the room and apply stickers all over her body —some hidden, some in plain sight. 5.
Read the name of one of the stickers from the list. 6.
Have your baby try to find that particular sticker hidden on her body. 7.
When she finds it, have her remove it and stick it in the appropriate place on the paper body outline. 8.
Continue until all the stickers have been moved from your baby's body to the paper body.
Safety:
Don't put any stickers in your baby's hair, and make sure to retrieve all the stickers when the game is over.
Ball games aid the development of eye/hand coordination and gross motor skills for both babies and toddlers, and they give your child a satisfying sense of achievement. Try this basketball game for beginners and who knows where a little practice may lead!
Materials:
•
Large, lightweight plastic or foam ball about 12 inches in diameter
•
Large basket, tub, or box, large enough for the ball to fit in easily
•
Floor space
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Eye/hand coordination
•
Gross motor development
•
Social interaction
What to do: 1.
Set your basket or other large container against a wall inside or outside the house. 2.
Stand your baby about a foot away from the basket and give him the ball. 3.
Encourage him to throw the ball into the basket. 4.
If the game is too easy for your budding NBA player, have him move back one or two steps. If it’s too hard, have him move forward.
Safety:
If you’re playing indoors, be sure the area is clear of valuables that could be broken.
Just as your baby starts to get going, call out Red Light and make him stop! But he won’t mind—you are just playing Red Light, Green Light. And on the Green Light, he gets to go again!
Materials:
•
String or tape
•
Large floor space
•
Balance and coordination
•
Cause and effect
•
Gross motor development
•
Listening skills
What to do: 1.
Place a length of string or tape down on the floor at one end of the room. 2.
Place another length on the other side of the room, parallel to the first. 3.
Clear the floor space between the two lines. 4.
Stand your baby on one side of the room and tell him to stay behind the line until you say otherwise. 5.
Go stand behind the other line. 6.
Tell your baby that when you say, “Green Light!” he must try to get to the other side of the room and cross the other line. But if you say, “Red Light!” he must stop and not move. 7.
Play a practice game by facing him and watching him as you call out, “Red Light!” and, “Green Light!” Correct him if necessary and explain the rules again. 8.
Once you’ve had a successful practice game, turn around and face away from your baby. Then call out, “Green Light!” 9.
Quickly call out, “Red Light!” and turn around, to catch him if he moves. 10.
Keep playing until he crosses the line. 11.
Give him a turn to be the traffic cop.
Safety:
Be sure all obstacles are out of the way so your baby doesn’t trip.
Dr. Doolittle sings a song called “Talk Like the Animals,” but your baby can “Walk Like the Animals” with a little assistance from you. All you need are a little imagination and a creative step!
Materials:
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Pictures of animals
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Marching music
•
Floor space
•
Creativity and imagination
•
Gross motor development
•
Identification and classification
What to do: 1.
Pick out pictures of animals that have a distinct walk, such as an elephant (sways back and forth), a cat (tiptoes), a dog (runs), a snake (slithers), a crane (high-steps), a duck (waddles), a mouse (scurries), a spider (uses all its arms and legs), and so on. 2.
Put on some marching music to inspire your Animal Walk. 3.
Stand in the middle of a large floor space and show your baby the first animal picture. 4.
Then begin to walk like the animal, using your body creatively. 5.
Encourage your baby to follow your footsteps. 6.
After a few muments, pick another animal and change your walk to suit.
Safety:
Be sure the floor space is clear so your baby doesn't trip over anything.
Here’s a game of Hide and Seek, but in this version, what’s hidden is not a person, but a treasure, and the pirate gives clues to its hidden location. Just make sure the treasure is something worth finding after all that work!
Materials:
•
Toy or treat
•
Room in which to hide the toy
•
Cognitive development and thinking skills
•
Language development
•
Object permanence
•
Problem solving
What to do: 1.
Choose a special toy or treat for your baby that will make the search worthwhile. 2.
Hide the item in plain sight, but slightly disguised, so finding it won’t be too easy or too hard. 3.
Bring your baby into the room and tell her you’ve hidden a treasure. 4.
Give her clues by saying, “You’re getting closer,” or, “You’re getting farther.” 5.
When your baby finds the item, hide it again and again until she gets tired of the game. Or hide a different item each time to hold her interest longer.
Safety:
Make sure the room is safe, so your baby won’t get into anything that will break or hurt her as she plays.
Your baby has rhythm! All you have to do is turn on the music and he turns on the dancing. So get out on the dance floor and join him for Dancing Baby fun!
Materials:
•
Cassette or CD Player
•
Danceable music
•
Floor space
•
Coordination and balance
•
Listening skills
•
Motor movement
•
Social interaction
What to do: 1.
Select a variety of dance music, such as Raffi tunes, classical, rock and roll, hip-hop, and show tunes. 2.
Bring your baby into the middle of the floor and turn on the music. Let him dance any way he wants, letting the music guide his rhythm. 3.
Switch music and see how your baby changes his dancing to adjust to the new tune. 4.
After a few minutes of dancing, play a game. Explain to your baby that when you turn the music off, everyone must freeze. Then turn on the music and dance together. Every so often, turn off the music and enjoy each other's goofy posture. 5.
Continue dancing to different kinds of music, making up dances as you go.
Safety:
Make sure the floor isn't too slick, you don't want your baby to slip and fall! You may want to have your baby dance barefoot, for better traction.
If your baby is a picky eater—or a picky person, in general—here’s a game that makes it fun to be picky! And this game is tasty, too, since your baby can eat the game materials as you play!
Materials:
•
Muffin tin
•
6 types of dry cereals, oat rings, rice cereal, flaked cereal, shaped cereal, etc.
•
6 bowls
•
Classification skills
•
Exploration of tastes
•
Fine motor development
What to do: 1.
Pour a small amount of each cereal into a separate bowl. 2.
Set the bowls in a row on the table. 3.
Set the muffin tin behind the bowls, within easy reach of your baby. 4.
Place one piece of each cereal into each of the six muffin cups: each cereal should have its own cup. 5.
Ask your baby to match the bowls of cereal to the samples in the muffin tin. 6.
Have him fill each muffin cup with the matching cereal, using his fingers. 7.
Tell your baby he can eat some of the cereals as he plays!
Safety:
If you use something other than cereal, be sure your baby won’t choke on the foods.
Your baby’s cognitive skills develop rapidly during this time. She now has the rudimentary ability to classify objects based on their similarities and differences. Here’s a game that enhances that skill.
Materials:
•
Groups of 3 toys, 2 identical and 1 similar, such as playing cards, stuffed animals, blocks, pictures, dolls, medium-sized balls, and so on
•
Table
•
Classification and sorting
•
Distinguishing similar and different properties
•
Fine-tuning of cognitive skills
What to do: 1.
Collect items in groups of three. Each group should have two identical items and one slightly different item. 2.
Place each group of three in a separate bag. 3.
Seat your baby at the table and place one bag on the table. 4.
Remove the three items from the bag and set them on the table. 5.
Ask your baby which item is not the same as the other two. Let her think about it for a few minutes. If she has trouble, ask questions about the items to help her make the distinction. 6.
Bring out the remaining bags, one by one, and let her continue guessing which items don’t belong.
Safety:
Be sure the items your choose are safe for your baby to handle.
Parents always seem to tell their babies, “Don’t touch!” Here’s a chance to say, “Touch it!” instead, with a guessing game that will entertain and educate your baby.
Materials:
•
6 small paper bags
•
6 unusual items to touch
•
Cognitive skills
•
Exploration
•
Mental representation, imagination
•
Sense of touch
What to do: 1.
Fill each of six paper bags with an unusual item that has interesting sensory properties, such as a textured ball, sponge, wad of cotton, squeaky toy, familiar toy, bottle brush, and so on. 2.
Close the bags and set them on the floor. 3.
Bring your baby into the room and seat her on the floor next to the bags. 4.
Choose one of the bags and open the top. 5.
Have your baby stick her hand into the bag without looking inside. Demonstrate with your own hand if your baby is reluctant to explore the contents of the bag with only her hand. 6.
Ask your baby what she feels. See if she can guess the item. 7.
If she can’t, put your hand in the bag and descote the properties of the item to your baby. 8.
If she still can’t guess, let her pull the item out for identification.
Safety:
Be sure the items are safe to touch, with no sharp edges or sticky points.
