Young children learn by touching, smelling, dropping, stacking, pouring, looking, banging, and pretending. Exploring helps them begin to make sense of the world around them. Remember you are your child’s most important playmate. Follow your child's lead and focus on things that interest him. Playing with you when you are tuned in is one of the best ways your child will learn! Set aside a little time each day to have fun and play with your child!

Playing with your Infant

Give your baby interesting things to touch to learn how different objects feel. Make sure they are safe to put in his mouth!
Dangle toys in front of his hands and legs so he can reach for or kick at them.
Play "peekaboo." Try props!
Have tummy time every day. Start with a minute or two and work up to an hour each day.
Hold a toy about a foot in front of your baby. Get his attention and then move it slowly up, down, and side to side.
Look into his eyes and make faces with each other. Mirror what he does. If he sticks out his tongue, you stick out yours!

Vroom Share a Stare

Infant vision development: Helping babies see their bright futures!

Tummy Time

Playing with your Toddler

Use play materials like real life objects: brooms, pans, dolls, phones, or keys so your child can copy you.
Go on a color hunt. Run around a room and find everything that is red or blue.
Make an obstacle course with pillows, baskets and boxes. Toddlers like to jump, balance, crawl and climb.
Stack and smash. Build a tower, then knock it down! Say “one, two…” and pause so you child can say “three”!
Play with textured items, (i.e. sand, snow, sticks, rocks, feathers.) Describe how they feel.
Roll or kick a ball back and forth to each other.
Follow his lead.

10 household items you can use for play with toddlers

Playing with your Preschooler

Play catch. Start with a beach ball, then work your way down to a tennis ball as your child gets better catching and throwing.
Freeze dance. Sing or play music and dance. Stop the music and freeze in position. Restart and do it again.
Play pretend. Bring in props to encourage imagination. Don’t be afraid to use things in a different way, like a tv remote for a phone.
Use empty egg cartons or ice cube trays to pattern, sort, and count.
Allow for messy play like playdough, finger paints, or sand.
Play a memory game. Lay out a few small items. Have your child try to memorize the items. Then, take one away without her seeing. See if she can figure out what's gone.

The Power of Play - How Fun and Games Help Children Thrive

Preschool Activity Pages - Scavenger Hunt

Playing with your School Age Child

Gather objects from outside and bring indoors. Try sticks as people, rocks as furniture or game pieces, and leaves as carpet. Create a new world wherever your minds take you!
Play old school games like Simon Says, Mother May I, or Red Light Green Light.
Play pretend. Dress up and act like someone you know or have seen on TV.
Play catch.
Play charades.

Play and your School Age Child

Sing.

Say.

Utility Container

Mobile Menu Trigger (container)

Top Links

Site Info Container

Menu

Playing with your Infant

Give your baby interesting things to touch to learn how different objects feel. Make sure they are safe to put in his mouth!

Dangle toys in front of his hands and legs so he can reach for or kick at them.

Play "peekaboo." Try props!

Have tummy time every day. Start with a minute or two and work up to an hour each day.

Hold a toy about a foot in front of your baby. Get his attention and then move it slowly up, down, and side to side.

Look into his eyes and make faces with each other. Mirror what he does. If he sticks out his tongue, you stick out yours!

Playing with your Toddler

Use play materials like real life objects: brooms, pans, dolls, phones, or keys so your child can copy you.

Go on a color hunt. Run around a room and find everything that is red or blue.

Make an obstacle course with pillows, baskets and boxes. Toddlers like to jump, balance, crawl and climb.

Stack and smash. Build a tower, then knock it down! Say “one, two…” and pause so you child can say “three”!

Play with textured items, (i.e. sand, snow, sticks, rocks, feathers.) Describe how they feel.

Roll or kick a ball back and forth to each other.

Follow his lead.

Playing with your Preschooler

Play catch. Start with a beach ball, then work your way down to a tennis ball as your child gets better catching and throwing.

Freeze dance. Sing or play music and dance. Stop the music and freeze in position. Restart and do it again.

Play pretend. Bring in props to encourage imagination. Don’t be afraid to use things in a different way, like a tv remote for a phone.

Use empty egg cartons or ice cube trays to pattern, sort, and count.

Allow for messy play like playdough, finger paints, or sand.

Play a memory game. Lay out a few small items. Have your child try to memorize the items. Then, take one away without her seeing. See if she can figure out what's gone.

Playing with your School Age Child

Gather objects from outside and bring indoors. Try sticks as people, rocks as furniture or game pieces, and leaves as carpet. Create a new world wherever your minds take you!

Play old school games like Simon Says, Mother May I, or Red Light Green Light.

Play pretend. Dress up and act like someone you know or have seen on TV.

Play catch.

Play charades.

Sing.

Say.

Play.