Ask Our Expert: Keeping A 1-yr-old Amused
How can a mother use her time with her child creatively? Dr Pat Spungin, raisingkids.co.uk's illustrates how playing is learning to a one-year-old.
Raisingkids member's problem
My son is a year old. I'd like to try a few "tasks" with him so to speak so I can spend more quality time with him teaching him things rather than just playing. Other than story time and scribble all over mum's bank statements is there any sort of things I could do with him to keep him amused... he's very active and doesn't seem to want to sit still.
Dr Spungin's advice
For children play is learning. The most important things at this stage are to encourage curiosity and exploration within safe limits. For example, learning about the properties of objects sounds very complex but that is exactly what your child is doing when he is 'into everything'. By reaching for new objects handling them, feeling textures, seeing what happens if they are dropped, putting them into his mouth to see what they taste like, all of these activities are learning - learning the properties of things. There are obviously things that are not to be touched so make sure they are well out of reach.
You can exploit this by creating a basket of odds and ends that your child can explore, things that can be pulled apart, things that are put together, things that make a noise when shaken, etc. Pulling and pushing again teaches about movement and weight and manipulation.
Here's another interesting bit of learning for a child, turning the light on and off teaches 'cause and effect'. Emptying and filling containers with water, sand, stones etc teaches that things can change place and even shape but remain the same. Putting things inside containers so they 'disappear' and discovering them (They come back) teaches that objects still exist even when you can't see them - an obvious thing to us but something we had to learn.
And then there is the importance of physical play, for encouraging physical development and learning what the body can do.
Reading stories is obviously very good but also give your child books to hold and turn the pages for himself. Cloth and thick cardboard books are obviously good in this respect.
Say It Loud
Now the big development in speech is coming, so name things for your son, talk to him (you will naturally stress and simplify your language to his level) Sing songs with simple melodies, especially nursery rhymes with their strong sense of rhythm. When he get used to the sound and babbles along, leave off the last word so he will be encouraged to speak it.
Learning Is Fun
If I have to sum it up I would say there is no need to 'teach' just respond and encourage his natural curiosity. Interact with him. Talk to him all the time you are together and encourage listening and babbling/naming. Don't forget that there is also physical learning during play - running skipping jumping etc. Most all all enjoy him - that will also make the whole experience of learning pleasurable for him and build his confidence.
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