Encourage exploration and curiosity
Allow your child to explore their environment in a safe way. Simple activities like investigating textures, shapes, or different objects help them develop problem-solving skills and curiosity.
Use everyday moments as learning opportunities
Engage your child in daily routines like cooking, cleaning, or shopping. Counting objects, naming colours, or discussing what you're doing helps them build mental links with real-world settings.
Use cause-and-effect toys
Toys that create reactions, like pop-up toys or musical instruments, are excellent for developing play skills. They help children understand that their actions lead to results, building early problem-solving and focus.
Provide open-ended play materials
Offer toys that encourage imagination and problem-solving, such as blocks, stacking toys, or pretend play sets. These toys allow children to experiment and develop critical thinking skills.
Encourage problem-solving through questions
Ask open-ended questions to encourage your child to think critically. For instance, if they are trying to fit a puzzle piece, ask, "Where do you think this piece might go?" rather than giving them the answer.
Use repetition for learning
Repeating activities or stories reinforces learning. If your child enjoys a particular story, reading it lots of times helps them:
- remember information
- recognise patterns
- understand sequences.
Create sorting and matching games
Sorting activities, like grouping toys by colour or size, help build organising skills. You can also create matching games with objects or pictures to encourage memory and logical organization.
Incorporate sensory play
Sensory activities like playing with sand, water, or dough stimulate brain development by allowing children to explore different textures, enhancing their understanding of the world.
Demonstrate play skills
Show your child how to play with toys by modelling actions like rolling a car, stacking blocks, or feeding a doll. Many young children, especially those with additional needs, enjoy seeing how to play.
Celebrate small achievements
Acknowledge your child's efforts and progress in learning. Praise encourages them to stick with it and builds their confidence, helping them face and attempt challenges.