Video transcript
All children develop at their own pace. At around 12 months, your child may be saying some words, crawling, maybe even walking. There’s no denying it – your baby is becoming a toddler!
There are lots of things you can do to help your toddler learn, grow and understand the world around them. One of the best things is to build a happy close connection with you.
Your toddler learns through play, especially when it is with you. Make time to sit and play together free from distractions like TV and screens. Five minutes each day will help!
Choose a few activities and toys that you have at home. Find things that are fun and interesting and that encourage safe and gentle play together. The most important thing is to let your toddler show you what they want to play with and how they want to do it.
Here are 5 things you can do while playing.
Praise. Praise your toddler by telling them exactly what you like about how they are playing. This will encourage them to keep doing those things. It will also build their confidence.
Repeat. Listen to what your toddler is saying – or trying to say – and repeat it back to them with confidence. This will help your toddler’s language. It will also make them feel good knowing that you are listening to them.
Imitate. Play together with your toddler by copying what they do. This will make your playtime fun. It’s also a great way to model positive behaviours like playing gently, sharing and taking turns – important skills for making friends and learning at school.
Describe. Describe the things that your toddler is doing with their hands. This will encourage them to keep playing. It will also help them concentrate, stay calm and play for longer.
Enjoy. Have fun, smile, laugh, be close and give lots of cuddles. This will make your playtime enjoyable and help your toddler feel close and connected to you.
By using these skills, during just 5 minutes of play every day, you are building a close connection with your toddler, and helping them to learn, grow and be happy.