The toddler years are such an exciting time for both parent and child. The physical and intellectual changes are evident in leaps and bounds. Every day there is something new and interesting to be learned, observed and enjoyed. Interactive games are such an important part of this stage of development. The more a child and caregiver engage in stimulating game play, the more quickly the child grasps new concepts and skills, and the stronger the emotional bond becomes. Here are some suggestions on interactive games that are both fun and educational.
House
Even the youngest of children get great enjoyment from reenacting familiar relationships and situations. Baby dolls and their necessary equipment, as well as kitchen sets and plastic food items and appliances, are terrific props for this game. At one stage of my daughter’s lives, our entire front room was a make believe kitchen, doll bedroom and grocery store. Each and every day I would join my girls in readying their “children” for the day and help them to feed, change and dress them before heading off to the imaginary grocery store. I loved to see how they mimicked what they had seen me do countless times and bestow the same gestures of affection upon their dolls that I had always bestowed upon them. The idea of what a family is and what tasks need to be accomplished to run a household are reinforced during this activity.
School
Toddlers who have older brothers and sisters are often familiar with the concept of school at a very young age. They hear wonderful stories of crafts, reading and playing on the playground, and they can’t wait for the chance to get in on the fun, too. The letters of the alphabet and the names of colors can be presented during this activity, as well as the concept of listening and waiting their turn. This game offers the opportunity to introduce the idea of education and attending school in a very positive and enthusiastic light. My younger daughter and I would enjoy a game of “school” every morning that my older child attended preschool. We would set up shop at the kitchen table with books, a pad of paper and pencils and crayons. I would show her the letters of the alphabet, encourage her to copy them and then award stickers. By the time she was ready to attend preschool herself, she truly couldn’t wait to get there.
What’s That?
This game is played every day, by every parent of a toddler. It can and should be played in the grocery store, on nature walks, at the beach and on the playground. No matter what setting you find yourself in, teach your child all the names of the objects around you, and then reinforce that information again and again. Your child will love telling you the names of all the animals at the zoo, the fruits at the grocery store and the flowers in the garden. I played this game with both of my daughters each and every day to the point that I was tired of talking by the time evening rolled around, but they loved the learning process and reveled in the self confidence that the knowledge brought them.
Concentration
A stack of colored card stock decorated with matching stickers or pictures of simple and recognizable objects drawn in is the only requirement for this fun game. Lay the cards face down on the floor or a table and instruct the child to flip over two cards. If the ones selected produce a match, the cards are kept in a pile. Non matching pictures are to be flipped back over and new cards selected by the next player. The child must try to remember the placement of the picture cards to try and find a match on their next turn. This activity encourages and develops critical thinking and enhances memory skills. My daughters and I logged in many hours playing this game, both with my own crafted variety and with a regular deck of playing cards a little bit later. It was always great fun for all of us and helped to develop much needed skills for their future endeavors.
