Key Messages 1. 2.
Have fun playing together! Babies and children need to play - it’s how they learn about our world. Talk with your baby or child while you play - it will help them learn to talk to you. Watch and listen to your baby or child - let them lead the play. Don’t worry if your baby or child only plays for a short time, it will still have been a positive experience.
3. 4. 5.
working together for health & well-being
Make Believe Play
Watch out for….. 1. 2.
Always keep a careful eye on your child. Create a safe place for your child to play (e.g. check regularly for broken toys, sharp edges and small objects that can be swallowed).
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If you would like more copies of this leaflet, want more information, or would like a copy of any of the another leaflets in this series, please contact Somer Valley Children’s Centre on 01225 396660 This leaflet can be made available in a range of languages, in large print, Braille, on tape, electronic and accessible formats from Tel: 0800 073 1214 or Textphone: 07980 998906
Somer Valley Children's Centre Services Play Ideas
Why make believe play?
Playing together…
• Children love to make believe • Games of make believe explore emotions, encourage language, develop visual memory and develop sympathy for other people’s point of view • It helps them to think creatively • It helps them to try out roles they have seen or practice situations which might be difficult for them
• Be another character in the story • Use different voices for different characters • Encourage them to explain that character to you and guide you in the story • Have a dressing up party for their birthday • Why not act out your child’s favourite story with them?
Make Believe Play What can I use?
Talking together...
• Plastic cups, saucers and cutlery (restaurant) • Pens, books and tables (school) • Junk mail, stamps (post offices) • Old food packets, unopened tins of food, coins (shopping) • Blanket over dining room table, saucepans (camping) • Cardboard boxes (a spaceship, a boat, a treasure chest) • Old clothes (dressing up)
• Are there any animals in your story? • Would the fire be hot or cold? • What colour is the banana you just bought? • How many letters is the postman/woman carrying? • What’s the weather like? • What sound would the elephant make? What would it eat?