Tips for Enjoyable Play for your Toddler and You

• Your toddler will be keen to manipulate and investigate objects
• Your toddler will start to be mobile through crawling or walking
• Some toddlers may be able to start using their coordination skills by helping to feed themselves and through early pretend play

• Your toddler's imagination is starting to develop so pretend play becomes more important
• Your toddler may be walking and starting to try to talk, so communication is key to their play world.
• At this stage your toddler will begin to enjoy playing with their friends and siblings, as well as you
• Toddlers will be more able to play with intricate objects as their concentration, ability and coordination become finely tuned.

• You can encourage dancing and singing as they become more mobile on their feet
• If your toddler looks for help in play - such as helping them stack bricks - then be there to assist
• Offer encouragement and praise when they complete new tasks or do something well
• Try not to interfere or take over any of the games - your toddler has to learn for themselves.

• Try to provide an environment where make believe play can be acted out with companions
• Have patience when your toddler tries to learn new skills and attempts new tasks
• Share your child's pleasure when a task is performed well, such as pouring a drink or threading an object onto some string
• Try to stimulate your toddler's imagination and curiosity by providing interesting new challanges.

• Show your toddler how to imitate: they love copying you
• Encourage a sense of humour by showing your toddler that they are funny when they try to make you laugh
• The more you laugh the more inventive your toddler will be
• If you buy suitable activity games make sure you set aside the time to explain the game and play along
• Explore the feeling of water in the bath or at washing up time.

• Outdoor play can be great fun for toddlers as they will be noticing the sights and sounds as well as what other children are doing
• As your child becomes more coordinated you will be able to engage in more complex activities such as counting or memory games
• Everyday tasks can be of great interest to a curious, helpful toddler
• Engage your toddler's inquisitiveness by letting them help you run the bath, wash up, cook or sweep the floor.

• Only buy toys that are suitable for your toddlers' age and stage of development
• Toddlers start to enjoy turning the pages of books so have large print, colourful books to hand
• Paints can be messy but a lot of fun for your toddler as can colouring on paper with thick crayons that are easy to grasp
• Building blocks and shape sorters are of great interest to children of this age
• Waterproof toys will be of great interest at bath time.

• Imaginative play is very important at this stage of development. Try to provide some dressing up clothes to aid this pretend play
• Balls are of interest to your toddler as they can be used for so many activities such as throwing, kicking and catching
• Soft toys and dolls can be used for your toddler's imaginative play as well as offering a comfort when in the car or away from home
• A paddling pool can be fun, as your toddler will love to sit splashing around, filling objects up and pouring water over the side (never leave a toddler unattended in or near to water).