Young children and play

Your young child will probably still play with some of her existing toys although the ways in which she plays with them may differ.

She may continue to play with building blocks, but instead of just piling them on top of each other will use them as part of a larger concept: she may use them to make the wall surrounding an imaginary house.

During this third year your child will want to imitate the way you behave and the way you look. Manipulation skills will be greatly improved so larger jigsaws and more fiddly puzzles will be popular.

Imitative games for young children

As part of her imitation of the adults around her, your child will create a little world of her own. You don't need to buy a proper play house for her to do this. A couple of chairs, or a small table draped with a large blanket will make an instant tent or playhouse, as will an old playpen covered with a sheet. Children love playing in the dark, so draw the curtains if that's what they want. All of my children loved playing with cardboard boxes of any size, as long as they were big enough to climb into. Small ones became boats and cars, piles of them were made into castles, forts and houses. Boxes laid on their sides became tunnels and when laid end to end became trains. More elaborate “houses” can be made by taking a large box or a series of tea chests with all the nails and strips of metal taken off and cutting out doors and windows. Your child can draw in curtains and put pictures on the wall inside, and outside she can draw shutters, a door and a knocker. If you put several stools or small chairs in a line across the room your child will make them into a train, a boat or an aeroplane.

Games to help play and manipulate

• During this year your child will have enough co-ordination to help with tasks in the house, and she'll see this as a form of play because she's so keen to copy what you do. She'll enjoy helping you wash fruit and vegetables, and she'll be able to snap the tops off beans and tear lettuce leaves.

• Many children love taking anything mechanical to pieces so don't throw away old clocks, old motors, cameras or CD players when they break; let your child have fun taking them to pieces. And if there is anything around the house that needs to be dismantled, such as an old wall or fence, or cardboard boxes that need breaking down, let your child join in.

• Your child might enjoy trying out spatter painting. To do this she places leaves, grasses, coins, whatever shape she wants, flat on to a piece of white paper. She then takes a toothbrush, well soaked with paint, and gently draws her thumb or a plastic knife across it so that the paint is spattered randomly across the paper. To make it look even more exciting she can try different colours. When the paint is dry she can remove the objects.

• Give your child a small plot in the garden that is entirely hers. Provide her with her own trowel and a watering can and help her plant some quick-growing flowers such as marigolds or vegetables such as radishes, runner beans or peas.

Jigsaw puzzles

Your child will probably be able to deal with jigsaws of up to six pieces. Wherever possible you should try to buy ones with easily identified bits when the puzzle's apart. Your toddler will find it much easier if she can see what's a leg or an arm or a tree rather than just a shape. Buy wooden jigsaws where possible: they're easier to handle and don't bend like the cardboard variety. If you find your child still can't hold them make it easier by gluing on small plastic hooks from the hardware store. Start off with the inset puzzles where the pieces fit into pre-cut areas on a tray. Your toddler will soon pick up how it works.

With some jigsaws you may have to show your child exactly how to assemble the pieces. When you do this explain to her why certain pieces go together and interlock. “Look, this bit has two bumps that look like eyebrows … this piece is for the head that always goes on top of the body”. Once you've done this and helped your child through it herself a couple of times she'll happily sit and do it over and over again. If you have a number of puzzles, make them easier to sort by marking the back of each piece with a different colour pen.

Make your own puzzles out of your child's favourite picture by pasting it on to heavy card and covering it with clear contact film. With a craft knife, cut the puzzle into about six pieces made up of triangles, diamonds and squares.

Toys to play with for 2 to 3 year olds

Children of this age are gaining steadily in independence, control of language and new skills. They like to build things up and knock them down, and they love “let's pretend” games.

Suitable toys

• Large-piece jigsaw
• Plasticine
• Plastic building bricks
• Scissors (blunt-ended)
• Glue
• Prams and pushchairs
• Tea sets
• Toy washing machines, cooking utensils
• Play house
• Tricycle
• Cars and trucks
• Climbing frame

Dr Miriam Stoppard

New Babycare
Copyright © 2009 Dorling Kindersley
Text copyright © 2009 Miriam Stoppard

Posted 03.11.2010

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