Did you know that 90 percent of a child’s brain development occurs in the first five years of his life?i That too at a lightning-fast pace! That’s why there’s no better time to help your little ones start to making sense of the world around them.
Don’t underestimate the power of playtime. Personal experiences between a child’s birth to the age of five matter significantly to children’s long-term emotional and physical development.ii From sensory play at museums to beach fun, the possibilities to unleash your child’s learning potential are endless. Why not use the world around you to help nurture your child’s cognitive, motor, emotional or communication skills this weekend?
Read on to find out how you can inspire learning through play with these seven fun activities.
1. Stick in the Sand
On your next visit to the beach, ask your four-year old to draw works of art in the sand. To help them build confidence and trust, take turns and guess what each other has drawn. It’s not only a fun activity to promote creativity and enhance communication skills, but is alsoiii a great way to spend time with your little one!
2. X Marks the Spot
Get kids moving at the beach on a search for buried treasure. Depending on your child’s age, the list can be made up of either pictures or words. Finding different items on the treasure hunt builds their problem-solving skills and increases imagination.iv Use seaweed, rocks, driftwood or even favourite toys from home for the treasure chest. This activity is suitable for kids aged five and above.
3. The Next Monet
To help master your little Monet’s fine motor skills,v become their creative canvas! Following your next gallery outing, wear a white apron and keep colour crayons ready. Now, ask your one to two-year old to draw one of the paintings, on you! It’s never too early to teach and inculcate your child with elements of art, while broadening their cultural horizons.
4. Museum Manners
Planning a trip to the museum? Make this trip an interactive one. Simply challenge your kid to have ‘Museum Manners’.vi Get them to walk like a mouse, hiss (whisper) like a snake or even crawl like a snail. If they can do all these activities with ease, reward them with a candy. Bonus points if mum and dad join in too!
5. Play Speed See
Turn on a timer for 30 seconds. When the timer goes off, ask your five-year old to turn away from the display and try to describe to you all the things they saw. Interacting with each exhibit opens the door for their curiosity and helps strengthen their communication skills.vii
6. Life on the Leaves
Make sport fun for kids aged three years and above with a fun scavenger hunt! Start looking for big fallen leaves and place them on the grass. Pretend to be a frog, caterpillar or butterfly; hopping, crawling, or flying from lily pad to lily pad. More than just a good workout, they’ll be dreaming up storylines that stretch their imagination and creativity to its limits.viii
7. Shadow Tag
Try this fun variation of Tag, in a bid to increase your child’s understanding of nature and science! Instead of tagging each other’s bodies, attempt to tag each other’s shadow with your feet. The closer to noon, the more challenging this is to crack. Suitable for children of all ages, they’ll be the master of motor and coordination skills in no time!
Fuelling Their Potential
As your child continues her learning journey, it’s important to choose a diet for her that provides energy and essential vitamins and minerals. Well-nourished children have a healthy mind and are best equipped for unleashing their learning potential. Read on to learn about Enfagrow A+ and how it will support your child’s overall development.
What is Enfagrow A+ and how will it support my child’s nutrition?
Enfagrow A+ is the number 1 children nutrition milk formula brand globally* with over 100 years of paediatric nutrition experience. Enfagrow A+ with 360° DHA PLUS is an advanced milk formula for your child’s overall mental and physical development and has been scientifically formulated to help meet the recommended daily DHA intake** at every stage of your child’s growth. It contains DHA, Wellmune® Beta-Glucan, Dietary fibre (PDX) and Prebiotic (GOS). DHA is an important building block for brain and eye development for your child***, whilst Prebiotic (GOS) promote the growth of good Bifidus bacteria to help your child maintain a healthy digestive system. Zinc and iron also help support your child’s natural defences. ****
Find out more about the Enfagrow A+ range here.
* Mead Johnson & Company claim based in part on Value Sales data reported by Nielsen for the Children Nutrition Milk Formula category across measured off-premise retail channels in 27 countries for the 12 months ending June 2017
**WHO recommends daily dietary DHA intake of 10-12mg/kg body weight for children 12-24 months or 100-150mg DHA+EPA for children 2 years old and above; 150-200mg DHA + EPA for children 4 years old & above and 200-250mg DHA + EPA for children 6 -10 years old. Reference: FAO 2010. Fats and fatty acids in human nutrition. Report of an expert consultation. FAO Food and Nutrition Paper no. 91. FAO: Rome. Enfagrow currently contains 50mg of DHA per daily intake.
***This nutrient function claim only applies to products for young children up to 3 years of age.
**** This nutrient function claim only applies to products for young children up to 6 years of age.
Citations and Sources
ihttps://toosmall.org/news/commentaries/childs-first-5-years-hold-key-to-success
iihttps://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/119/1/182
iiihttps://www.weewatch.com/benefits-sand-play-children/
ivhttps://educationaladvancement.org/benefits-scavenger-hunts/
vhttps://ecc.gov.jm/benefits-of-the-arts-in-early-childhood-development/
vihttps://mommyuniversitynj.com/2015/07/03/10-educational-benefits-of-bringing-children-to-the-museum/
viihttps://cubbieleetoys.com/blogs/news/5-benefits-of-imaginative-play
viiihttps://www.babycentre.co.uk/a1041159/shadow-tag