Hobbies And Interests
Stages of Play Development
The Fisher-Price "Stages of Play Development" is a guide for parents, detailing the skills a toddler should have developed before beginning kindergarten. However, children develop in different stages and at different speeds. As long as you are providing her with games that will teach her these skills, she will be prepared for preschool. Games should develop literacy, recognition, numeracy, motor and social skills. A description of the stages of play development can be seen in the Resources section.
Online Games
Online games for preschool toddlers can be enjoyed on various platforms. You can now download games for your toddler straight onto your iPhone, iPad or Android phone (see Resources) as well as on your desktop computer. Online games can help your child develop hand/eye coordination, recognition and problem-solving skills. Playing the games yourself first can help you determine which games are appropriate for your toddler's development. Look for games that don't have excessive advertising around them so as not to distract your toddler. Chuzzle is a game available on the iPhone that helps your toddler to recognize colors and interact with the touch screen. Another online game is The ABC's Learning Game, available from the Fisher-Price website. This game will help to develop your toddler's literacy skills while introducing him to different animals.
Arts and Crafts Games
Preschool toddlers imitate what they see by role-playing, and arts and crafts games can enrich their play by adding realism. Baking and cooking will help your toddler learn sanitary practices and following a recipe. Asking your toddler what you will need next keeps her planning ahead. Using cookbooks that include big pictures and simple recipes involves your child in the entire process. Craft activities will also help your toddler's interaction and social skills, as she will have to work with you to create a project. Creating your own Playdough introduces your toddler to crafts that you can make at home. See Resources for a Playdough recipe.
Outdoor Games
Taking playtime with your toddler out into the open allows your child to speak louder and move in a larger space. You can use outdoor games to encourage your toddler's observation and gross motor development. Outdoor games also give your toddler a chance to exert some energy and learn about his surroundings. Take him for a walk and point out different animals and plants, encouraging his vocabulary and recognition skills. Try Hula-Hooping with your toddler; he will have to use his problem-solving skills and develop his own technique to Hula Hoop. Show your toddler the various ways to use a Hula Hoop and let him experiment with different techniques. Use your yard to its full potential by creating a treasure hunt and a map that your toddler will have to follow. Let him use his directional and reasoning skills to find the treasure that you have hidden.
Holiday Games
Games for the holidays or with a holiday theme develop a toddler's understanding of the calendar. Activities and games can become family tradition as you make decorations for Hanukkah or Christmas, hunt for eggs at Easter or carve a pumpkin for Halloween. These games and crafts encourage toddlers to interact with others at parties and to associate holidays with symbols and traditions.