Keeping little ones busy can sometimes be a full-time role, so it’s always helpful to have ideas for fun activities to do together. Whatever children’s abilities, play is the best way for them to learn. Playing is about discovering and having fun. Here are 10 stimulating activities that you can do at home with your child. Be patient and attentive, and enjoy this time of sharing and learning together!
1. Place different toys on a tray or flat surface to stimulate your child. Choose developmental toys or toys equipped with suction cups that will stick to a flat surface. You can also use sponges or cups.
2. Invent a game using a ball (you can even make one together with fabric). Depending on your child’s mobility, choose the most suitable way to play with them, with their hands or feet.
3. Film your child playing, then show them the video. You can do the same activity with a tape recorder, recording your child singing or laughing, then playing them.
4. Take your child to the kitchen to help you cook. Depending on what you are doing and how interested your child is, you can let him help you or give him his plastic bowl and spoon to imitate your actions.
5. Take advantage of your child’s artistic talent and let him color or paint. There are brushes and drawing materials that are ergonomically shaped, which children with reduced mobility can easily grip. Finger painting is also a fun solution.
6. Read books together, sitting or standing, in a comfortable position (depending on your child’s abilities). You can also pull out family photo albums and show your child some familiar faces. To make your child feel more comfortable and hold their head up, find the best possible position, for example using a cushion or an inclined support placed on a table.
7. Fill a basin with water or sand so your child can play with different textures. You can also add toys.
8. Play with dough, either playdough or homemade dough. Use molds and have fun cutting out and assembling shapes. Cookie cutters or cups with large handles may be easier for your child to grip.
9. Set aside quiet time to build simple puzzles or play with cards representing shapes, colors, words or numbers. To make this activity easier, use a flat, smooth surface such as a table or tray.
10. Sing, dance and make noise with your child. He can use a saucepan or any other improvised instrument to beat time with you.
