Play is vital for children; it’s their work. It is how children learn, and how they work out who they are and where they fit in the world. No wonder Albert Einstein said, “Play is the highest form of research.” It’s so important to optimal child development that it has been recognised by the United Nations High Commission for Human Rights as a right of every child.

Top 5 Tips

1. We don’t need to formally ‘teach’ young children in order for them to learn. By allowing our children to follow their interests, they will learn through play.

2. Children need unhurried, unscheduled time to play. It’s positive for them to have to come up with their own play ideas so don’t shy away from moments of ‘boredom’.

3. Try not to get sucked in by expensive ‘educational’ toys. The simpler the toy, the more complex the play. Simple toys that allow a child to use their creativity and imagination, such as blocks, sandpits, boxes etc. are a great choice!

4. Make everything you do with your child playful, even the things you consider to be ‘chores’, such as folding the washing.

5. Take time to stop, observe, and talk with your child about the things that are going on around them (for example, the rubbish truck picking up the bins or an ant carrying a leaf). If you’re patient enough and have the time, only move on when your child starts to lose interest.