RICHIE MCFARLAND CHILDREN’S CENTER

11 Sandy Point Road

Stratham, NH  03885

(603) 778-8193

www.richiemcfarland.org          

The Value of Play

 

Play is essential for children to grow and learn. The playtime activities shared with toddlers are opportunities for development. Overall sensory stimulation, speech, motor skills, dexterity and cognitive skills can all be enhanced through simple games.

 

The building blocks of play begin at birth. We spend time looking at each other's faces, smiling and enjoying attending to each other. Games like peek-a-boo allows the baby to engage with others and establishes joint attention with people.

 

With each new toy, game or play experience that you introduce, your child takes in all the information and knowledge that he or she is capable of depending upon their stage of development. When you present the exact same activity at a different time, the child will derive or absorb something different.

 

Repeating games or activities with toddlers will not only build on their past experiences and knowledge, but also provide opportunities to learn and develop new skills in a familiar environment.

 

Playtime is also an opportunity to develop social skills. Learning to take turns, share toys and utensils are important components of development. Learn to anticipate your child's tolerance for the length of an activity in order to allow enough time for the child to finish the task and participate in the clean up.

 

Pumpkin Pie Play Dough

 

Play dough provides not only hours of enjoyment but also the chance to encourage the development of many skills.

 

The process of developing fine motor control begins early, when infants and toddlers reach for and grasp objects. The development and coordination of wrist and finger muscles, necessary for handwriting later on, come slowly and with lots of practice.

 

Playing with play dough helps build strength and dexterity in the hands. Rolling and shaping the dough develops strength in finger and wrist muscles. Pinching the dough increases dexterity of the thumb and forefinger, a skill used in many activities such as picking up small objects.

 

Plastic cookie cutters, utensils and pizza cutters can all be used to reshape the dough. This activity encourages creativity while building strength in the fingers and arms.

 

Development of speech can also be a part of the play dough experience. Repeating "roll it" or "poke it" as you roll or poke the dough encourages the child to repeat the sounds he hears. Create a snake by rolling the dough and moving it along the table saying "hisssss" as you go. Make a short snake and a long snake, or a big ball and a little ball to teach your child the concepts of length and size.

 

A child who is sensitive to touch may be unable to fully engage in the squishing or rolling of the play dough. Start slowly by letting the child simply observe you playing. Stimulate the other senses--smell the dough, hear it plop when dropped on the table. Offer small manageable pieces at first and let the child experiment. Asking him to copy a shape such as a ball may be enough for him to become "hands on."

 

Pumpkin Pie Play Dough recipe

5 1/2 cups flour

2 cups salt

8 teaspoons cream of tartar

3/4 cup oil

1 container (1 1/12 ounces) pumpkin pie spice

orange food coloring (2 parts yellow, 1 part red)

4 cups water

Mix all the ingredients together. Cook and stir over medium heat until lumps disappear. Knead the dough on a floured surface until it is smooth. Store in an airtight container.

 

Mr. Pumpkin Head

 

"Mr. Pumpkin Head" is another seasonal activity that encourages healthy development. Cut slits in a pumpkin for eyes, ears, nose and mouth. Using pieces from the Mr. Potato Head game, have the child insert the pieces through the slits in the pumpkin.

 

Fine motor and strength skills are developed as the child picks up the pieces and pushes them through the side of the pumpkin.

 

Cognitively, this game works in the same way as the Mr. Potato Head game, teaching children to understand where the pieces belong on the head. Encourage the child to repeat the name of each piece as it is chosen, which will reinforce their cognitive and speech skills.

 

Some children will deliberately put the pieces in the "wrong" places because it is silly and fun. This demonstrates their ability to understand the correct placement of the pieces as well as a healthy sense of humor.

 

Another option for pumpkin play that helps develop the sense of touch is to cut the top off the pumpkin and let the child reach in the feel around in the goo and seeds. This will stimulate many of the senses!

 

Reaching into a pumpkin full of goo can be difficult for many children. Encourage the child to dig out the filling with a spoon at first. Then you can play with the slippery seeds a few at a time. For children old enough to be with you in the kitchen, clean, toast and salt the seeds for a snack.

 

 - Published by Seacoast Newspapers, October 2001