AT Home with Jo Frost - July 2011 - (Page 188)

Child’s play There’s a lot more to play than just fun and games. Everything children do through play helps them master how to live successfully in the adult world P As he begins to play more by himself, you could introduce your child to shape sorters and stackers, which will build on what he’s learnt already. He’ll feel a real sense of satisfaction as he posts the shapes through all the matching holes or stacks them up in the right order. Through play he can learn: ● Physical coordination. ● Hand-eye coordination. ● Muscle strength. ● Balance. ● Cause-and-effect – learning that all actions have consequences. SKILL 1 – PHYSICAL ● Similarities and differences – learning Physical play allows your child to develop his how to sort objects according to their muscles and exercise his body. It also enhances shared characteristics. concentration, motivation and learning. ● Reversibility – understanding which objects stay the same According to experts, parents when turned upside down/ should provide their children around and which don’t. with traditional educational toys PRACTICE IS ● Bringing to bear and games – building blocks, THE IDEAL WAY musical wooden toys and an suitable force – learning FOR BABIES AND abacus – from an early age. how much pressure to CHILDREN TO ‘Puzzle toys such as nesting exert on an object to get LEARN SKILLS barrels and shape sorters the result he wants. enhance thinking skills,’ says Dr Richard Woolfson, consultant child Try these games with your toddler: ● Same or different – give him a psychologist. ‘Children face demanding learning activities in play. As a rule, don’t selection of objects from his toy box and be tempted to rush in and rescue them.’ ask him to pick out all the round ones or In the early days, a newborn’s eyesight the green ones, for example. ● Naming and ﬁnding – show your toddler is not developed, so he’ll use his ﬁngers, mouth and tongue to explore toys and some photographs of common objects, objects until his eyesight is fully developed name them and ask him to pick out (usually after his ﬁrst birthday). Newborns similar objects around the house. also can’t distinguish between colours, but they can enjoy the contrasts between light, SKILL 2 – COMMUNICATION dark, plain and patterned objects, as well One of the most important skills a young as different textured objects. child can learn is to communicate effectively. Practice is the ideal way for babies and young children to grasp various skills, from There are many methods of communication: repeating new sounds to pressing the ‘play’ talking and listening clearly, understanding button on a musical toy. By echoing these body language and interacting with a group. actions, they learn that big objects won’t fit As a parent, you could improve your child’s into smaller things, circular objects roll but communication skills by focusing on the time square ones don’t, hard things won’t usually you spend together. Talk to your child during bend, but soft things will, and so on. Engaging mealtimes, nappy-changing sessions, while with your baby while he plays in this way dressing or at bathtime. Tell him what’s going encourages him to discover new things. on, name items of clothing as you dress and laying is the most natural way for a child to learn, and with the enormous range of toys and games on offer, babies and young children can pick up a huge variety of skills they need to develop and grow. Play is more than just a pastime for babies – it’s vital to their healthy development. Sport, too, can be a great leveller as, whatever social background children have, they can all play together in a school playground. To encourage your child to learn to make sense of the world around him: ● Praise his achievements, no matter how small they may be. ● Allow him space and time when playing to explore and discover new things for himself. ● Set aside one-to-one time each day to play with your child. WHAT CAN PARENTS DO?

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of AT Home with Jo Frost - July 2011

EDITOR’S LETTER
HELLO FROM JO FROST
NOTEBOOK NEWS
JAM-PACKED JULY
FAMILY FORTUNES
OUT AND ABOUT
MUNCH BUNCH
LET’S PARTY!
TOP TOOLS
EXTREME PARENTAL GUIDANCE
FIRST-TIME MUMS
ROUTINE CHECKS
YEAR ONE
MAGNIFICENT MILESTONES
GETTING ABREAST OF IT
BOTTLE IT UP
GREEN BABY
SKIN SOLUTIONS
SLEEPLESS NIGHTS
GOING SOLID
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
BABY ON THE MOVE
FASHION FORWARD
BREAK THE HABIT
SIBLING WARS
BOOK SMART
BEST BEDROOMS
FOOD FOES
UNDER THE WEATHER
PERFECT PLAY
TOP OF YOUR GAME
TRENDY TOTS
GET READY FOR SCHOOL
ACTING THEIR AGE
MAKE SCHOOL COOL
ALL GROWN UP?
CYBER SPACE
IMAGE CONSCIOUS
LOVE YOUR LUNCHBOX
I DO IT MY WAY
THE BIG PICTURE
BACK TO WORK
JOB QUEST
CAREER WITH KIDS
A DAY IN THE LIFE OF...
NURSERY TALES
BODY BOOST
PET PROUD
KIDS’ STUFF
FAMILY FUN
HAPPY HOLIDAYS
THE GREAT OUTDOORS
COMING SOON
HELP ME NANNY JO!
SAFETY FIRST
WOW FACTOR
CRAFT CORNER
HOT OFFERS
STOCKISTS

AT Home with Jo Frost - July 2011