Tips to Make Your Child’s Play Even More Powerful
When children play, they learn and grow. It’s that simple.Here are tips and suggestions to help parents and other caregivers enhance the learning that happens naturally through play.
Ask Open-Ended Questions
When you ask a child questions that don’t have a yes/no or right/wrong answer, their minds explore options and new possibilities.
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- “What do you think?”
- “How did you do that?”
- “Why do you think that happened?”
- “What ideas do you have?”
Make Observations
Focus on how a child is doing something, less on the outcome. Kids learn new words when adults notice and describe the action.
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- “I noticed how you flipped the puzzle piece so it would fit.”
- “I see you connected the tubes to make the water flow.”
Pose Challenges
Extend a child’s imagination by adding twists to their play.
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- “What would happen if…?”
- “What would you do if…?”
- “Let’s pretend...”
Lead by Example
- Show you’re eager to play and learn, too.
- Model confidence, cooperative behavior and flexible thinking.
Slow Down
- Don’t rush an activity.
- Observe with purpose – notice and describe details.
Guide Without Taking Over
Be a great sidekick during any activity by asking questions to spark your child’s thinking.
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- “What have you tried so far?”
- “What else do you want to try?”
- “What do you think would happen if…?”
- Give children time and space to work through challenges on their own.
Attitude is Everything
- Remind yourself: Children are capable people.
- Focus more on the doing, less on the outcome.
- Avoid imposing one “right way” of doing things.
- Embrace repetition – give children time to do something again and again.
- View a child’s failures (and your own!) as learning opportunities.
- Try not to get frustrated – you’ve had more practice than they have!
- Make play a priority – for your children and yourself.
