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Play to grow.
n this guide the Osservatorio Chicco deals with the complex theme of the role of
play in the psychological, sensory and motor development of children and offers parents
information and practical advice, how to foster their childrens development, help them
become independent and satisfy their curiosity for the outside world, serenely and joyfully.
laying is not simply a pastime but it is the childs work, a pleasant and
rewarding work that involves him deeply, uses up all his energies and resources,
and favours the acquisition and consolidation of many new skills.
Moreover, it constitutes the first and main opportunity to build his personality,
exploring the relation with himself, with his emotions and the social context that
surrounds him.
Playing begins at birth, when the childs world is focused on exploring his body
and discovering himself and other things; it is progressively expanded through
the interaction with the environment and presence of objects that the child
explores and handles, thus learning how to play.
or this reason, toys boast an essential role and they are an important tool
for growth. Therefore, they must be chosen carefully, and they must always be
suitable to the stages of the psychophysical, cognitive and motor development
of the child.
From birth to
Visual
skills
Hearing
skills
months
Tactile
skills
From
Relational
skills
Tactile
skills
to
months
Coordination
skills
uddling, queezing,
aressing.
The child experiments with his senses, manipulating, grasping and exploring rattle toys even
with the mouth, made of different materials and colours. He likes playing peek-a-boo with
family members, he is fond of a favourite object which he always carries with him.
He wants to communicate and starts interacting with his parents using repetitive sounds: this is
the perfect time to read an illustrated book together, to sing simple songs to him, and propose
talking and musical toys.
From
Cognitive
skills
to
Tactile
skills
rasping and
months
From
Musical
skills
Psycho-motor
skills
ropping,
ragging and
rawling
His motor skills are getting more affirmed: this is the time to explore, crawl and to make
the first steps. He is fascinated in rolling toys, that move or that can be assembled and
disassembled, and allow him to experiment with the coordination of his gestures. Riding
toys are also essential, on which the child can sit, or climb, in order to help and support him
in his first motor activities.
Language
skills
to
months
Psycho-motor
skills
nderstanding,
alking,
alking.
The child is working on gradually perfecting his walking skills. As months go by, he is
more and more stable and coordinated, and he loves pulling or dragging his favourite
objects with him, during his discoveries. He is also learning how to leaf through and
look at illustrated books with more attention, and recognizes his image in the mirror
or in a photograph. He is also skilful in grasping the language sound, therefore it is the
ideal time to expose him to foreign languages, also through bilingual toys. He loves
trying to imitate adults activities and favours games that simulate the adults world.
From
Psycho-motor
skills
to
Imagination,
creativity and
inventiveness
Imagination,
creativity and
inventiveness
Psycho-motor
skills
oving, magining,
After
months
ommunicating.
Socialising
mitating,
months
Writing
reating, ocializing
He is more and more independent and is gradually able to coordinate movements also to
move around with a tricycle or use remote-controlled toy cars. He starts building the image
of himself and his identity. He loves being the protagonist of his games, preferring toys
that respond to his commands, like talking or interactive toys that allow him to express his
unstoppable desire to communicate.
He is developing his ability to imagine and use symbols to interpret, see and feel the world:
toys are therefore suggested that allow him to invent roles and actions. He starts to relate
with other children that catch his attention more and more; tastes and behaviours are
focusing on male or female models.
11
January 2013
Code 00 091019 800 020