SENSORY AND PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT

Trying out different jobs, such as using a tool kit or swimming, provides an array of physical and sensory experiences and promotes competencies.

0 TO 12 MONTHS VOICES

Your baby thinks on a concrete, tangible level. She does not yet have the abstract thinking ability to understand that fingers placed on the side of your head can, for example, represent bull’s horns. The foundations for pretend play can be laid by using the prop he is most fascinated by – your face.

Tell him stories changing the tone and pitch of your voice for each character as well as your facial expression. Use gestures and movement. He will be intrigued and drawn in. For example, tell this story: A mouse tip-toed quietly through the house. He knocked on the big wooden door, and the door started to creak open. He crept in and found a rocking chair. In it lay a baby mouse. He kissed the baby mouse on the hand, on the nose and on the chin.

TIP: As you perform the story, add concrete value to it by showing him a rubber mouse as you refer to it. Tip-toe and creep along his arm with walking finger tips or slow finger steps. Stroke his hand and kiss him in the places mentioned in the story.

12 TO 24 MONTHS MINI ME

It’s time your toddler tries the exciting adult roles he sees you perform daily. Give him a set of miniature pots and pans, cutlery, plastic food items, an apron and a chef’s hat. Let him imitate everything you do. This develops his observation skills and challenges him to try new motor skills, such as pretending to slice the food with a knife. Trying out your roles helps your child feel grown-up in every sense. He feels competent and important, and it provides him with insight into your roles. For example, he may find he enjoys nibbling on the food as you prepare lunch but that tearing basil leaves into the bowl takes a very long time. This may feel tedious to him. He learns the effects of time, dealing with frustration and how to endure tasks. TIP: Let your child think up and add additional actions to the activity you share. He can make up new sounds, names, actions, ways to dress. Ensure you show your approval of his creative thought. It is not the real world. It’s pretend. Let his thinking take flight. Use open-ended questions to help trigger their creative thought.

24 TO 36+ MONTHS OPEN THE BOX

Your pre-schooler needs no assistance to set his creative mind in motion. They are masters of pretend play. Simply allow them to open a make-believe box filled with some choice props such as old clothes, pieces of fabric, cardboard boxes, dolls, puppets or masks and, most importantly, yourself.

You will be your child’s favourite prop. Do whatever he says. Assume the name and identity of whomever he chooses. You will gain insight into the frame of reference from which he works – in other words, how he perceives different players in the world.

Choose a theme such as “storytime” or “under the sea”: let him select and explore characters from his favourite stories, or encourage him to explore water as a habitat and life as a sea creature. Encourage diversity by changing settings, from the sky to the desert to a cave, the ages, from baby to granddad, the gender, and the personality type, from the jolly clown to the sad old lady. ●