Toddler play ideas and toddler games

Play is not only fun – it’s also how children learn. You’re still the best toy for your toddler to play with – and the best toddler games still have you playing a very important part.
Here are some tips for toddler play:

• Sing songs and nursery rhymes: your toddler will enjoy singing with you, especially songs and nursery rhymes that involve actions and touch.
• Read with your toddler every day: pop-up and lift-the-flap books are fun and full of surprises. Let your child choose favourite books to read. You can also point out some words as you say them, ask your toddler to repeat words with you, or ask questions like ‘What happens next?’
• Give your child things to draw with: your toddler will enjoy scribbling with crayons, pencils, paints or chalk. You can expect him to put any pens within reach into his mouth too, so it’s a good idea to choose safe, non-toxic pencils and paints.
• Try messy play: for example, playing with water, sand or mud lets your toddler explore new textures and sensations. Let your child empty and fill containers, pour and scoop. Remember that constant supervision is the only way to keep your child safe around water.
• Go outside with your child: outdoor play, like pottering in the garden or park, offers endless play possibilities. It also gives your child the chance to be active in varying ways like climbing, running, swinging, leaping or rolling.
• Give your child opportunities for pretend play: create an exciting play space like a bedsheet over chairs or a tower of boxes. Some simple props like old scarves, handbags or clothes can give your toddler ideas to make up stories or pretend games.

Screen time
Screen time can be a fun, learning experience for your child. But it’s important to balance screen time with other activities that are good for your child’s development, like lots of face-to-face creative play or physically active time with you and other carers.
The most recent screen time guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) say that:

• children under 18 months should have no screen time other than video-chatting
• children aged 18 months to 2 years can watch or use high-quality programs or apps if you watch or play with them to help them understand what they’re seeing
• children aged 2-5 years should have no more than one hour a day of screen time with adults watching or playing with them.

---