The Lego Professor of Play explains how to explore, interact and enjoy time with your young children as they learn about the world around them
Play is a fundamental part of childhood – it is one of the key ways in which children explore the world and engage with people and objects. It occurs throughout childhood, changing as children grow – through moving and shaking objects as babies, then building blocks up and knocking them down, then playing imaginary games with parents and then siblings and friends, to more organised games with rules and playing outside. Play changes again as children get older, and though teenagers and adults don’t often talk about going to play, for many people it remains part of their lives as they age, whether that’s through sports and other games with friends, online gaming, or the more recent resurgence of board games.
Parents are often a child’s first playmate and there is a lot that parents can give in playing with their young children, even very young babies. Through playing with a parent, children can learn about themselves and the world around them, and acquire important skills like taking turns and managing emotions. Playful interactions and having fun together also help strengthen the important relationship between you and your child. This doesn’t just mean sitting on a mat with your baby and their toys. A lot of play in early life happens during day-to-day activities, like a game of peekaboo when getting dressed and blowing bubbles or splashing in the bath.
