Play

When playing, your baby has experiences that are important for their overall development. How and with which toys your baby is currently playing depends on the skills that are currently maturing. Paying attention to this and creating suitable play opportunities help you support your child. Often, everyday objects and a little imagination are enough. The most important thing is that your baby has fun playing!

Every game and everything that is fun or interesting for your child promotes their development. However, your baby doesn't always need an "engagement programme". This is because even in the first year of their life, children can keep themselves occupied on their own for a short time: They play with their feet, chew on something or explore a toy closely. Make sure to provide an interesting environment if you want your child to keep themselves occupied for a while. For example, give them coloured, glossy and movable objects.

Suitable toys

One to two years: Children discover space by placing things inside each other (from 9 months), on top of each other (from 15 months) and in a row (from 24 months). They also like hide-and-seek. Children find out how objects work. They arrange things according to their characteristics. At the age of two, your child learns a lot by imitating. They also explore their limits by running as fast as possible, jumping as high as possible and screaming as loud as possible. Suitable toys: doll; cuddly toy; toys for pulling, building and inserting; painting equipment; picture books; rocking horse; all natural materials

Two to three years: Your child can now arrange objects on top of and next to each other and, for example, build steps. They remember things and build or draw them. At two years old, children learn the difference between you and me and change roles. Suitable toys: painting materials; puzzles and shape sorters; anything movable such as gyros, wooden trains; household objects such as pots and lids

Tips:

Encourage your child to play, but don't force them to.
Let them decide when a game is over too.
Do not disturb your child while they're playing.
Announce interruptions, for example with "we're having lunch soon".
Offer boys and girls the same toys – for example, both vehicles and dolls.
You can also make toys yourself or together with your child.
- Building blocks: Glue small boxes and paint them with non-toxic paints.
- Noise cans: Fill small non-transparent cans with paper clips, lentils or pasta.
- Family house: Build a house with door and windows from a large cardboard box.

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