Practice 14: Stimulation and Play

Promote children’s mental and social development by responding to the child’s need for care, and by stimulating the child through talking, playing and other appropriate physical and affective interactions.

• Ask if the mother and her husband play with the children, and respond to their questions and needs.
• Listen attentively.

• Appreciate if the family is taking an active interest in the children’s development.
• If not, try to understand the root of the problem.
  • For example, the family may not be aware about the role of play and stimulation for the children.

• Explain to the parents how important early stimulation is for the growth and development of the children.
• Help them make some homemade toys and how they can be used, and use objects in the house.

• Respond to your child's sounds and interests. Call the child's name, and see your child response.
• Encourage your child to talk and answer your child’s questions. Teach your child stories, songs and games. Talk about pictures or books. Sample toy: books with pictures
• Help your child count, name and compare things. Make simple toys for your child. Sample toys: Objects of different colours and shapes to sort, stick or chalk board, puzzle etc
• Give your child clean and safe household things to handle, bang, and drop. Sample toys: containers with lids, metal pot and spoon. Make the child experiment with the toys
• Help your child to talk. Show and talk about nature, pictures and things.
• Talk to your child when you are doing other chores while the child is playing.
• When children participate in ECD activities their overall development is enhanced.