Nursery World - A parent's guide to learning through play

Babies, toddlers and pre-schoolers are great communicators, thinkers and explorers. We don't teach them these complex skills -they learn them as they play. Consistent, loving care and lots of opportunities for play are the best preparation for school. The ideas that follow are listed for babies, toddlers and pre-schoolers, but these are very flexible age groups and the ideas can be 'mixed and matched' for any of the years from nought to seven.

The ideas that follow are listed for babies, toddlers and pre-schoolers, but these are very flexible age groups and the ideas can be 'mixed and matched' for any of the years from nought to seven.

Babies

Babies enjoy listening, watching, touching and rhythmic movement. They respond to human voices and faces, moving leaves and mobiles, textures and sounds.

They are learning about language, sounds, rhythms, and expressions on familiar faces; how things feel; what objects and materials do; how to expect things to happen again; what they can do with their own bodies.

Play activities

* Bath time - splashing and kicking; sponges and flannels to squeeze and drip; plastic cups, bottles and small sieves to fill and pour; plastic bath books. Water is fascinating to babies, but NEVER LEAVE YOUNG CHILDREN ALONE IN A BATH.

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