Playing with baby

Play is the main way that babies and toddlers learn about the world. With your help, it’s also a wonderful way to support their language development.

• As a parent, you are your child’s best playmate so try to spend time every day playing together.

• Newborns love physical play, especially when you gently tickle their face or count their fingers and toes. • When your baby gets a little older and stronger, offer her lots of toys or things that are safe to go into her mouth, and talk about the objects for her.

• Make lots of play sounds to go with what’s happening, like “brmm, brmm” as you push a car along. That way, your child will hear different speech sounds and learn that listening to voices is fun.

• Your baby will love hearing the same little rhymes and stories, and playing games like peek-a-boo, over and over again.

• You don’t need lots of toys to play – your baby can play with safe, simple things around the house.

• As your baby gets older, don’t try to teach him anything during play. He will learn best if he chooses what to play and you follow his lead.