Playtime

Nothing can help you bond with your child more than playing games together. You needn't spend loads of money on toys when there are numerous games and activities for you to enjoy with your toddler. Maintain a balance of "learned" play – games that teach your child something new, as well as "free" play – games that are strictly for the fun of it.

Below you'll find a list of games for various ages from 1-5. Enjoy!

Games for 1-2-year olds:

1. Roll, kick, or bounce a soft ball back and forth. You can play this game inside or outside, and babies love it.

2. Place your baby on a blanket or throw, and pull him around the floor for a nice ride. Of course, it's safest to play this game on a carpeted floor in case he falls off the blanket.

3. Set up a path of pillows on a carpeted floor for your baby to crawl or walk across (with your help, if necessary.)

4. Help your baby walk barefoot on different kinds of textures from the rug to grass to mud (yes, he'll get dirty, but why not?) Teach him the words for the textures as he walks and feels the difference.

5. Find plastic jars and fill them with scarves or other small soft toys. Unscrew the lids part of the way, and ask your child to finish unscrewing the lids and removing the objects. Teach your child the words for each object and perhaps the word for the textures. If he removes a scarf, touch it to his face and say, "soft."

Games for 2-3-year olds:

1. Bubbles are a great game for young toddlers. They won't be able to blow the bubbles themselves at first, but they'll love trying and watching you blow bubbles while they chase after them.

2. At this age, you can begin trying balance games with your child. Hold her hand as she practices walking along a bench or beam. Make sure it isn't too high in case she stumbles.

3. Put on some music, and do exercises with your child similar to "head and shoulders, knees and toes." Have your child imitate you as you touch different parts of your body in time with the music, teaching your child the name of the body part as you play the game.

4. Gather some colorful scarves and practice throwing them up into the air. Since they fall much slower than a ball, your child will be able to watch and catch, improving eye to hand coordination.

5. Trace your child's feet on many pieces of paper, and let her color each one. Then, place the papers in a trail for her to practice walking. This will also develop her coordination.

Games for 3-4-year olds:

1. Mix up your child's shoes or your shoes, and ask your child to match the shoes that belong together.

2. A great way to prepare your child for taking care of a real pet is to teach him how to take care of a toy pet. Teach him how to be gentle, how to feed the animal, and how to fix boo boos. This can be a great way to teach nurturing behavior to boys, who tend to play "parent" to dolls less frequently than girls.

3. A simple game of scavenger hunt can be great fun if you give your child a flashlight to use for finding the items.

5. Cut geometric shapes from construction paper, and place them in a box or basket. Ask your child to pick them out one at a time, naming the shape and color.

4. Jumping on a target is another great way to develop coordination. Create some sort of flat target that you adhere to the floor, and ask your little one to jump directly onto it. This may prove difficult at first, but he'll be very excited when he achieves success.

Games for 4-5-year olds:

1. At this age, your child will be coordinated enough to practice trying to get a ball into a basket. It's best to set up baskets or buckets on the floor, as it's harder to throw a ball upward, but this is a great way to develop eye to hand coordination.

2. Make a rainstick using rice, construction paper, and a toilet paper or paper towel roll. Tape some paper around one end, fill it with rice, and then cover the other end with paper. Decorate the rainstick by gluing paper all around it and allow your child to paint, color, or glue things to it. You now have a homemade musical instrument just like in South America.

3. Here's a fun counting game. Your child counts from 1-10. On the count of 3, she must sit down. On the count of 7, she must get back up. Then begin counting again. This will really make her think.

4. To develop imagination, show your child pictures in a magazine or book, and ask her to give the picture a title. If she has difficulty opening up to this practice, name the first couple of pictures – even making the names silly – to get her started.

5. Puppets are a great way to act out life scenarios. The puppets can express feelings and give names to emotions, offering your child more ways to express her own feelings.

There is no end to the number of games you can play with your children. These games give you an opportunity to develop a closer relationship with your child, learn more about how she thinks, and learn where she is in her physical and mental development. If you take the time to play with your little one, you'll be very glad you did.

Tip of the Week: Be sure to include active play in your child's activities. It's important that every child get enough exercise, both to prevent weight gain and to keep growing muscles and lungs in good condition.

I hope you enjoyed this article.