Child Guidance Center

Child Guidence Center

Parents/ Age Group/ 0-5/ Parenting Tips Ages 0-5

Importance of Play Ages 0-5

Babies learn many thing s about their world through play; how things work and what people are like. You and your child will find many ways to communicate and love each other when you play together. Remember to look to your baby for hints – smiles, wiggles and eye contact are sure signs your little one is ready to fun. Repeated looking away or crying are signs your baby needs a break. Any activity can be playful, whether its bath time, getting dressed or taking a walk together – have fun and spend lots of time on the floor together. This is a time to follow your child’s lead – while you offer the choices and keep things safe.

When your Baby is:

Try These Activities:

To Teach:

0-3 Months

	Talking while cuddling.
	Songs and Dancing.
	Mobiles and Rattles.
	Have baby kick your hands.
	Put baby on tummy when awake.
	Read to your baby.

	Communication/ Learning words.
	Rhythm/ Sound.
	Coordination/ Movement.
	Movement/ Body Awareness
	Muscle Strength.
	Learning Words/ Sight Development.

4-6 Months

	Repeat your baby’s sounds
	Take your baby outside- show him things that you see and name them.
	Prop your baby up to sit on floor- have toys within baby’s reach.
	Peek-a-boo

	Communication/ Learning words.
	Senses/ The world outside.
	Exploring with their hands.
	Cause and Effect (you laugh –he laughs)

7-9 Months

	Putting toys in and out of a box
	Lift baby to standing and bounce or dance gently.
	Play pattycake

	Cause and Effect.
	Practice walking
	Imitation/ Eye-hand development

10-12 Months

	Hide and Seek with toys
	Scribbling on paper
	Blocks, Pegboards
	Rolling a ball to your baby
	Read with baby turning pages
	Naming face and body parts
	This little Piggy/ Where is Thumbkin

	Cause and Effect
	Eye/Hand coordination
	Coordination
	Coordination/Taking turns
	Reading
	Learning Words/ Body awareness
	Finger hand skills

13-18 Months

	Songs and Dancing together
	Play with balls
	Story telling

	Rhythm/ movement
	Eye/ Hand coordination
	Learning words/ creativity

19-24 Months

	Trips to the park to play
	Fantasy play (cooking/store)
	Play time with other children
	Simple puzzles
	Scribbles on paper
	Reading and having your child “read” to you
	“Help” with household tasks

	Strength/ Social skills
	Creativity
	Social Skills
	Perception/ Eye hand coordination
	Writing Skills
	Reading/ Learning words
	Self-Esteem