Video transcript
Narrator: Young children are very busy. They love playing and experimenting to find out about the world around them. Your child needs you, and the other people in her life, to help her make sense of it all. That’s because your child learns about the world through interactions. It’s all about the simple, everyday things you do with your child, like eating together, talking and playing.
The most important thing about these everyday interactions, is the back and forth between your child and you. The talk, the smiles, the cuddles, the playing together. This stimulates your child’s brain and makes her feel loved. These interactions give your child confidence and build connections in her brain, which help her develop thinking, social and emotional skills.
As your child is becoming more determined to do things for himself, your support and encouragement are vital. They give your child the confidence to try new things, like taking clothes off, cleaning teeth or exploring during play. Encouraging her effort and being specific about what it is she’s doing gives her confidence to try again when things don’t go right.
Spending time outside together gives your child the chance to explore the environment and have adventures. She has more space and freedom for physical play, like crawling, running, jumping, kicking and throwing. This is good for your child’s health, physical development and confidence.
Singing, dancing and listening to music are lots of fun for your child. These activities help her be creative and express feelings. Singing encourages him to use words and develop his memory. Dancing develops gross motor skills and coordination, whether she keeps time with the music or not, and quietly listening to music can be great downtime for your busy child.
Your child is an amazing learner. She’s learning new things all the time, through the everyday things you do together. Interacting with her in simple ways, like talking, listening, singing and playing, helps her grow and thrive.