1. PLAYING WITH YOUR CHILD
WHAT IS PLAY
An activity that brings amusement or enjoyment especially the spontaneous activity of young people.

2. Is it Really Important to Play With Your Child?
Helps build a warm relationship and strong attachments
Through play you can help your child develop some basic skills, test out Ideas and explore their imaginations
Helps children learn to communicate their thoughts, feelings and needs.
Helps them interact socially e.g take turns, share and be sensitive to the feelings of others.

3. What Kinds of Games Can You Play With Your Child
Play outdoors.
Play games
Get involved in a craft project together. Build a jigsaw puzzle as a family. Bake
Listen to music together. Sing along. Play rhythm instruments along with music. Get out the guitar or keyboard and make music.
Read a book together.
Watch a movie together. Find out what they liked – how they felt. Discover the child’s interests.
Play kid games like: Guess What I Am? – Hide and Seek

4. HOW TO PLAY WITH YOUR CHILD
Follow Your Child’s Lead
Pace the Play to Suit Your Child
Be Sensitive to Your Child’s Clues
Don’t Compete With Your Child
Praise and Encourage Your Child’s Ideas and Creativity
Encourage Emotional Understanding Through Fantasy or Pretend Play
Be an Appreciative Audience
Use descriptive Commenting
Use Academic Coaching to Promote Readiness Skills
Use Emotional Coaching to Promote Emotional Literacy
Coaching Positive Peer play
Encourage Your Child’s Independent Problem Solving
Give Attention to Play

5. A Word of Caution
Be Sensitive When Your Child plays Inappropriately or Misbehaves
Define a Play Time and Stop When the Time is up
Prepare a Child for the end of the Play session
Ensure that there is a Regular Play Period Everyday.

6. Conclusion Value Play and Set Aside Playtime with Your Children
Learn to Play in ways that Foster Self Esteem as Well as Social, Emotional and Cognitive Development.