Helping your toddler to learn through play
Your toddler is growing and learning so you can support this through play and encouraging them to explore the world around them.
The toddler’s world expands fast with new horizons and experiences – and as their mum or dad, you will want to do all you can to help your child play and learn as well as keeping them safe.
Playing with toddlers can be demanding but at the same time satisfying, as you can see immediately how they take on board what you say and do with them. Two of the most important things you can give your children are time and positive attention – by playing with them, noticing what they are doing and praising the efforts they make.
Exercising their increasing independence and mobility means toddlers can quickly put themselves into danger so they need to be closely monitored. It is also an age at which their temper can manifest itself in the infamous toddler tantrums, but it does not mean that they will act this way their whole life and there is advice below on how to handle these.
All this energy that toddlers have is good because the Department of Health recommends that children under five years who can walk should be physically active for at least three hours each day so that your toddler can develop and maintain a normal weight.
Read more:
- NHS physical activity guide for under fives
- NHS play ideas for children
- Talking to your toddler
- Dad Info guide to low cost, 10-minute games to play with toddlers
- PlayEngland – making space for play
Your toddler’s health
By the time your little one reaches two years old, they will be due for their third health and development review which can be organised in several ways, including through your health visitor or GP.
Healthy eating is a fundamental factor in your toddler’s health and extensive information about giving them a nutritious diet, and knowing how to get them to eat it, are on the Infant and Toddler Forum. Exercise is also necessary in order for your toddler to stay healthy.
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