Play for the Younger Infant

Rattles
Mobiles
Unbreakable mirrors
Soft toys, some with sounds (see through)
Textural toys
Musical toys
Bright pictures
Baby books with board, cloth or vinyl pages

What you need to do:

• Talk and sing to your baby
• Address baby by name
• Present your face and interact with him
• Provide warm and physical contact
• Provide area for exploration and roaming
• Engage in face-face talk. Mimic her sounds.
• Read everyday.
• Engage in rhythmic movement eg dancing together
• Introduce to other children and parents
• Floor time
• Encourage extended sleep at night

Play for the Older Infant

Stacking toys; Building blocks
Cups, pails, containers
Bath toys & water play
Push-pull toys
Squeeze toys
Large dolls and puppets
Cars, trucks, balls.

What you need to do:

• Encourage playing – eye-hand co-ordination, fine motor skills and sense of competence
• Stimulate memory skills (peekaboo)
• Teach gestures (bye, no, yes)
• Respect discomfort amongst strangers
• Floor time
• Talk to baby; expose to music

Play for The Toddler

Board books
Blocks
Shape sorters and pegboards
Jigsaw puzzles
Make-believe toys
Digging and outdoor toys
Dolls and stuffed toys
Cars, trucks
Push-pull toys
Musical instruments
Balls
Crayons
Visits to different sights: beach, zoo

What you need to do:

• Encourage blocks and soft toys
• Be predictable in routines
• Singing and rhythm-ing
• Reading
• Music
• Drawing

Play for the Preschooler

Age-appropriate book for him to read
Books for you to read to her
Play-dough
Tents & Camping
Drawing
Music
Playground
Make-believe / Pretend play: cooking sets, doctor sets, carpenter tool sets
Role-play
Sports: swimming, tennis, cycling
Exposure to different environments: the beach, Science Centre, Zoo, Botanic Gardens, Chinatown, Malay Cultural Village, Little India, Museums

What you need to do:

• Encourage creativity
• Drawing and painting
• Building and play dough
• One-one personal time
• Limit TV
• Provide social experiences
• Offer choices
• Encourage friendship and interaction
• Have small children’s parties
• Talk and learn together