Age-appropriate activities

• Age-appropriate activities
  • Play should provide interpersonal contact and educational stimulation
  • Infants have short attention spans and will not interact with other children during play (solitary play).
  • During first year play becomes more sophisticated and interdependent
  • Play is essential for growth and development 
  • Toys must be safe and consistent with child development 
  • Babies should be engaged in supervised “tummy time” a few times each day
    • Because babies are put on their backs to sleep they can develop plagiocephaly (flat head syndrome)
  • Appropriate toys and activities that stimulate the senses and encourage development include the following
    • Rattles
    • Soft stuffed toys
    • Teething toys
    • Nesting toys
    • Playing pat-a-cake
    • Playing with balls
    • Reading books
    • Mirrors
    • Brightly colored toys
    • Playing with blocks