Children learn about their world through experiences and play and creative play can represent life. What do I mean by this? Well, a child can learn about mail by writing a letter, putting it into an envelope, having an adult address and stamp the letter and then taking the letter to the post office. Or a child can learn about how clothes, once dirty, the clothes are cleaned by doing the laundry with mom or dad. Real life experiences definitely take the child out into the wider world to learn the activities of daily living. Playing with toys that represent real objects, helps the child learn about activities of daily living, allow them to practice these activities and use their imagination about these activities.

Toys help us build a pretend world based on real objects. Setting up a market with fruits and vegetables involves so many learning experiences; your child can sort fruits from vegetables and learn all the names even the ones they don’t eat! Using a shopping cart
children can set up a scenario where one is the shop keeper and another the customer. Look at all these new vocabulary words. Playing “store” keeps children occupied for hours and days. As your child becomes older adding play money adds the math dimension to this kind of play.

Who are the works in our communities? Most children will experience community workers in their daily lives. Police officers, firefighters, nurses, doctors, teacher, truck drivers surround us and help us. Children can play with these figures and their vehicles and set up simple or elaborate play schemes. What fun to build a space station for the “would be “astronaut or a race car driver. As you play with your child with these toys you are encouraging a deeper and more sophisticated understanding of words and concepts. Remember, the more words and concepts your child has before entering school the more prepared she/he will be.

Household chores- children see the adults around them involved in cooking,
washing, cleaning throughout their day. Sometimes they can help you in the kitchen or cleaning up but more often they are playing representationally. They are practicing these skills through play and if playing with others are learning how to cooperate. Having toys to set up and create their play schemes are powerful ways to learn and grow.

Remember blocks!

Children have always played with blocks.  As your child uses more sophisticated blocks, her play becomes more sophisticated. Different types of block sets encourage your child's creativity to blossom. Blocks can be a solo  play activity, social play with peers or an adult and child activity, all leading to social emotional and cognitive growth through fun, fun, fun!

As always,  play and have fun!

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