Play & learning

Play helps children learn about the world around them. Play is a child’s work and develops physical and social skills.

At times children are happy playing on their own and at other times enjoy playing with adults or other children. You may need to show them how to play together.

When your child plays with other children you may notice that:

• by 3 years they understand sharing, but are not always willing to do so - they may begin to play alongside other children, watching them and giving them toys
• by 4 years they play with other children and understand taking turns and sharing. Sometimes though they will not be able to do this and the children will argue
• by 5 years they enjoy playing games with friends most of the time and understand the need for rules and fair play.

Your preschooler may enjoy:

• drawing, painting, and cutting with child-safe scissors
• making pictures with glue and cut-up pictures, cards, magazines, leaves or material
• talking about their pictures
• playing with playdough
• looking at books and having stories read to them
• favourite stories they like to read over and over again - book and toy libraries lend a variety of books and toys
• choosing their own books to read
• telling made-up stories at bedtime
• singing and dancing to music - this helps them learn words, memory skills and develop hand–eye coordination through action and the beat
• make-believe games and dressing up - children often dress up in the opposite sex’s clothes. This is normal behaviour
• helping with simple household jobs like setting the table, putting away clothes
• playing with you, copying and helping you around the house
• watching you prepare meals and helping you cook, eg adding ingredients, mixing. Be careful to keep your child well away from the hot stove and hot tap.