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  • Breadcrumb

    1. Home
    2. Education
    3. Schools, learning and development
    4. Give your child a helping hand
    5. Helping your child with learning
    6. Playing with your child
    Mum and daughter high five
    Give your child a helping hand

    Play times as your child grows

    You can have fun with your child at any time. The more you play and share words with your child, the closer you’ll become. Bath-time and feeding-time can involve play and keep everyone in good temper.

    Think WEAN

    If you enjoy humour, you’ll notice how many ways' life can be even more fun with your child. It’s easy to pick the perfect moment for playing.  Remember the letters W-E-A-N because that’s the order babies generally do things:

    • waking
    • eating
    • activity
    • napping

    You might find it suits you to plan activity after mealtimes and before naptimes. To help your child enjoy their nap, it's important they're relaxed and settled before they go down for a sleep.

    Housework for beginners

    Toddlers see you doing chores and wish they could join in – and they can. Try asking your child to help you around the house – it may take more time but they'll love lending a helping hand.

    They can help you to:

    • sort socks
    • wash dishes (with more soap suds than usual)
    • polish with a duster

    It gets them out from under your feet and they’ll have so much fun. It's important to keep all sprays and harmful chemicals out of their reach.

    Watching your child as they play

    You’ve got the best seat in the house for some of the funniest things you’ll ever see. Children love to play on their own and make up their own games. Using their imagination helps to develop their minds. To see the world through their eyes, all you have to do is sit back, relax and listen.

    Information based on similar messages from Play Talk Read Scotland.

    More useful links

    • Sure Start services
    • Parenting NI website
    • Early Years website
    • Playboard Northern Ireland website
    • The Incredible Years website
    • Autism NI website
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    Playing with your child

    • Games for toddlers
    • Make and build things with your child
    • Play times as your child grows
    • Playing outside with your child
    • Playing with your baby
    • Tips for playing with your child

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    Contact your local Jobs & Benefits office

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