Your child's best toy is YOU!

There has been a lot said about what makes a "good toy". 

Something fun? 
Something educational?
Something to promote skills?
Something interactive? 

I will let you in on a not-so-secret thought... the best toy is not something but someone. 

Children seek relationship.  They are born with a need for attachment. 

In the early years of child development, the most valuable "toy" is the ability to interact with you as a parent.  As therapists we can see the attachment children form with us too. 

In interacting with your children, you can become attune to their needs. Parents are the first to become aware of a baby's physical and emotional needs. By meeting the child's needs; they feel secure, safe, attached and loved.  As the child develops their needs grow.  Parents continue to respond and meet the needs of  their child.

"Attunement is our ability to be aware of and respond to our child’s needs. It is deeply connected to emotional attachment. " (Child Development Institute)

In play, we can build on this attunement with our responsiveness through language, physical touch, body position, voice and non verbal communication. While there is a place for physcial toys and resources; there is also so much value in interactions between the child and adult without these things. 

Here are 45 ways you can play with your child. These are sometimes termed "people games" that require no equipment. Games involving physical touch are more appropriate for parents or family members. 

1. Action songs and finger rhymes  - Here is a list to get you started. Some classics include Row Row your boat, Ring a Rosies, The Wheels on the Bus, If you're happy and you know it. 
2. Piggy back rides - Child rides on parent's back. 
3. Horsie rides - Parent crawls on ground with child on their back. 
4. Shoulder rides - Child sits on parent's shoulders and hands are held. 
5. Flying rides - Parent holds child's trunk and flies them around. 
6. Peek-a-boo - Cover eyes with hands and open hands to reveal eyes. Child copies.
7. Simon Says - Name parts of body to touch or actions to perform. When the words "Simon Says" precedes instruction, the child copies. When the words "Simon Says" are not spoken, then the action is not performed. Can be played in a group with children getting "out" if they act on the wrong instructions. 
8. Mirror me action game - One person performs and action and the other copies at the same time as if looking in a mirror. 
9. Chasing - One person chases another. The person may be "tipped" by a light touch to swap roles.
10. Hide and seek- This can be played with a group with one person counting to 20 (eyes closed or covered) and others hiding.  When the counting stops, the person seeks the ones who are hiding.
11. Sardines - This is a variation of hide and seek where one person hides. The rest of the group "seeks". When the person is found, the rest of the people hide with them until the whole group find the first hider. 
12. We are going on a bear hunt - Act out the story with actions and movement through various places. Watch this to get you started. 
13. Human knot game with multiple family members - This may be more suited for older children.  Family members stand in a circle and cross arms so they are holding two different family members.  Untangle to form a circle without unlocking arms. 
14. Obstacle courses - Devise various actions to move within a space like a yard or bedroom. 
15. Animal walks - Bear walks, frog jumps, kangaroo hops, crab walks, duck waddle (and more but you can use your imagination)
16. Yoga poses - There are many to try but here are a few to get you started. 
17. Acting out a story (eg. Three little pigs, Goldilocks and The Three Bears)
18. Stuck in the mud - This can be played in a group. Divide the family into two groups.  One group chases the other. When tipped, they freeze in a standing position with legs apart.  Team members can release them by crawling through their legs. 
19. Relay races - Choose actions to do from one end of the yard to another. Tip the next person who will do the return trip. Change actions or include more family members. 
20. Clapping games - Here are some to get you started. 
21. Staring games - Look at each other and try not to laugh. 
22. I spy - Find objects or pictures in the room or from the car. You can spy by colour, shape, name or size. 
23. Pirate I spy - Close or cover one eye to play I spy. 
24. Follow the leader - Take turns in being the leader with different actions. 
25. Wall push ups - Press arms into wall while keeping feet in place.
26. Wall sits - Press back to a wall and bend legs like you are sitting on a chair. 
27. Human bridge/tunnel - Take turns to make a bridge or a tunnel with your body. Try different body positions and using arms/legs.  The other person goes over/under/through. 
28. Rough and tumble games - Find a soft surface like a bed. 
29. Upside down cuddles - Parent holds young child upside down for a short period of time. 
30. Log rolling - Try rolling down a hill.
31. Forward/backward rolls  - Suitable for older children.
32. Wall hand stands - Suitable for primary school age children or older. 
33. Spin and stop games - Individually or hold hands or hug.
34. Joined twin games - Try to do activities whilst joined by locking one arm each.
35. Three legged races - Join one leg for each person together with a sash. 
36. Thumb wars - Lock hands in place so that thumbs compete to press down the other person's thumb. 
37. Dance time - Make up a dance routine to do together.
38. TV hosts - Pretend to host a tv show and act it out together (eg. cooking show, wildlife documentary, news program). 
39. Pretend play - Pirates, firemen, mermaids, bus rides, doctor visit, vet play, plane travel, restaurant, school, visit a zoo, fly to the moon, go deep sea exploring, fairys, superheroes.... you are only limited by your imagination! 
40. Jumping games - Jumping patterns could include jump with feet together, feet apart, over items, side ways jump, hands on hips, hands on head, star jumps, jumping off small steps, jumping out a shape (like a triangle, or square).
41. Charades - Act out a scene for someone else to guess. 
42. Massage - Hand, foot, back, shoulder, head. Deep pressure is relaxing! This is for family members. 
43. Back drawing - One person draws with their finger on the other person's back. That person guesses what was drawn. 
44. Magical carpet ride - Sit on a rug or towel together and imagine you are flying all over the world. 
45. What's the time Mr Wolf?/Red light green light - For older children with one child standing with their back to the rest of the family/group.  They turn around periodically to see if the others are moving.  The others try to creep up to the first child and tip them.

 Tips for people play!

• Remove distractions and turn off devices. Focus on each other. 
• Be mindful of your child's sensory needs.  They may request "more" or have a lower threshold of participation.  
• Repeat games in a similar way and over time you can add variations. This will help with predictability and learning a sequence of steps. 
• Include language and verbal cues. Repeat language cues each time you play the same game. 
• Use "freeze" moments to practice impulse control and switching attention. 
• Problem solve together when problems arise. 
• Include counting to help with an initial awareness of time. 
• Include social skills such as moments of waiting, turn taking and asking each other about how they feel. 
• Encourage laughter and have fun!

This week I have been inspired with listening and learning from the other 20 expert speakers at the Toddler Play Conference. I have the VIP ticket which makes it easy for me to listen on Podcast (when I'm walking my dog) as well as come back to the videos at any point. Despite the name, this conference is NOT just for people working with or parents of toddlers. This is really for anyone interested in being a defender of play! From understanding the neuroscience behind play and executive function to coaching parents in child led play. There is so much to take in from amazing (easy-to-listen-to) speakers. 

In case you are looking for some extra hours of professional development or want the accessibility of the VIP Ticket- you can upgrade over here. It is truely value for money at $97 US for 16.5 contact hours for accredited CEUs. There is lots of bonus material including a printable workbook and posters!

The price is going up on Thursday (when the conference ends in the northern hemisphere), so grab it before then!

Happy playing!
Until next time,

Cindy is a registered occupational therapist practising in Sydney, Australia.  She has two growing children who are a constant source of inspiration and learning.  Cindy loves working creatively to help children to reach their potential, finding opportunities in everyday living and making learning fun. She is also addicted to making printables (even when they take a long time to complete).  Cindy is the author of the Occupational Therapy blog Your Kids OT.  Read more articles from Your Kids OT at https://www.yourkidsot.com/blog

Cindy is a contributing author of the Functional Skills for Kids Therapy Team.  They have together published THE HANDWRITING BOOK, THE SCISSORS SKILLS BOOK and THE TOILETING BOOK.

​The information on this site is general in nature. The activities are safe for most children, however, you should consult an Occupational Therapist or health professional to address specific movement, sensory or other medical conditions. Affiliate links are used throughout this website to promote recommended products. Your Kids OT receives a small commission if any purchases are made through these links. Please see my disclosure policy for more details. ​​​
Amazon Store: https://www.amazon.com/shop/yourkidsot
YKOT shop:  https://www.yourkidsot.com/store/c1/Featured_Products.html
Teachers Pay Teachers: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Your-Kids-Ot
You Tube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZUz_5nYEOCkj32DiOCQo4Q/featured
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/yourkidsot
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yourkidsot/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com.au/yourkidsot/
​

---