Get on the fast track to boosting your toddler’s brain
development through play. Play is an integral part of
childhood for good reason - it is your toddler’s “work”. Through
play, toddlers learn about themselves and their world. Swiss
developmental psychologist, Jean Piaget described toddler’s
play as their work. Through play, he noted that children learn
about and interact with their environment.
In order to be successful in ensuring that you are building
your toddler’s brain through play, allow the toddler to be the
learner. When on the floor, engage with the toddler, and be
patient. Dr. Jane M. Healy suggests the following guidelines:
Make sure the child is actively interested and involved.
Repetition, repetition, repetition!
Give positive encouragement.
Encourage attempts at new challenges.
Keep playpen times and other restraints to a minimum.
Provide low open shelves with a variety of accessible
toys, objects, and books.
Provide interesting, bright colored visuals.
As the toddler matures, her play becomes more
sophisticated, requiring more complex thinking patterns. So
when you see you toddler hard at play, understand that she is
building her brain!
