Let your child play independently if they’re younger than 2 years old. Babies and toddlers love to play on their own, exploring their environment and discovering new ways of play. Supervise your young child, but allow them to discover new ways of play by themselves and without too many other children around.
2
Allow your child to play alongside other children when they’re older. When your child is about 2-3 years old, let them sit next to other children and play. They may not interact very much until they’re 3 or older. At that point, they’ll start to learn new skills by playing interactively with other children.
This is a natural progression for children to take. Try not to force your child into playing with others before they’re ready for it; let them take their time and learn to love learning on their own.
3
Encourage imaginative play. Let your child’s imagination run wild. Imagination is critical for development and create a world of wonder and learning for your child. [1] If your child is imagining something or being silly, don’t shut their play down. Go along with it and encourage your child to continue creating and dreaming new things.
For example, if your child is playing with a kitchen set, ask your child what they’d like to cook and how they will cook it.
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Make learning fun by using games. Creating a game of something can make learning just about anything fun! Make up games that include things you’d like your child to learn about. See how many items your child can count or how many things they can name about horses in one minute. [2]
For example, when you’re at the grocery store, have your child guess how much the peaches weigh or have them add up the items in your cart.
Find games at the store that involve things you want your child to learn about or explore.
5
Allow your child free time. Children need plenty of free time to discover and explore. Don't jam pack your schedule with errands and activities and keep your child constantly busy. Give your child time for free play, daydreaming, and roaming around in the backyard. [3]
For example, if you do follow a schedule, schedule in some time for free time. Let your child choose activities to fill this time.
If you don’t follow a schedule, take your child’s lead for when they want some time alone or to play on their own.
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Provide hands-on examples and experiences. Give your child concrete, direct experiences as much as possible, in lots of different environments. Children will connect with real-life experiences and have a more exciting time learning. [4]
For example, if your child is learning about geology, bring them to a cave and take an educational tour, or go to a museum.
Use an old, unhooked computer keyboard to teach your child the alphabet. They’ll enjoy getting to press the buttons while learning the letters and becoming familiar with a keyboard.
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Let your child form their own opinions. Ask questions and let your child respond without judging them. Let them think through difficult questions and form their own ideas and values. Ask them about their thoughts and feelings and let them answer in a way that’s meaningful to them. [5]
Ask your kids how they feel about various issues (current events, relationships, values). Let them have opinions without passing judgment.
Ask your children to help you understand why they feel the way they do.
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Surround your child with books. Children love books and can learn about their favorite activities, animals, and cultures by reading. If you have a young child, read out loud to them. If you have an older child, encourage them to read on their own and find books that interest them. [6]
Spend some time reading with your child every day. For example, include books as part of your child’s bedtime routine.
Make regular visits to the library and check out books. If your library offers story time, go with your child.
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Talk about your own interests. Share your own passions with your children. If you love architecture, share your love by talking about buildings and structures. If you love sewing, get your child involved in projects and let them see how fun it is to make things by hand. If you love the outdoors, teach your child all about rocks and animals. Sharing your interests can help your child learn about things in a unique way. [7]
For example, if your child is learning about foreign countries, talk about your experiences traveling and ask them where they’d like to visit. Use visual tools like maps or pictures of different places around the world. Ask about what they see in the picture and what makes them curious about it.
