The Power of Play

Although, my husband and I are anticipating the arrival of our little one,  I have had many opportunities to see how the Power of Play helps development.  My educational background is centered around development through the lifespan (including childhood) and the dynamics of family but I have been working with children for as long as I can remember.  My studies have taught me that diverse play is important for helping children learn about the world around them and meet important developmental milestones.

One thing I recently learned is that Fisher-Price takes the science behind play into account whenever creating new products, whatever the age or stage.  Dr. Weber is the Senior Manager for the Fisher-Price Research Department and holds a Bachelor's, Master's and a Doctorate degree in Early Childhood Development and Elementary Education.  Plus, she has two children of her own.  I never realized before joining the Fisher-Price Play Panel that Fisher-Price has an actual research department responsible for ensuring that the items they create help children to reach important milestones.  My education, experience with research (a previous research assistant), and applying research to real life situations (through my current work) gives me greater appreciation for this work that Fisher-Price does.  I am happy to see a company using research to back up the products that they create!

Fisher-Price has launched a new campaign for 2011 - The Milestone Moments Campaign.  Fisher-Price realizes there are milestones that children need to reach at each stage of development; Fisher-Price has committed themselves to creating products that help children meet these milestones.  They are dedicated to showing parents how to help their children meet these milestones through the creation of seven product categories: Soothe, Sense, Move, Discover, Socialize, Learn, Create, and Imagine.

You can help your child thrive in their development by looking at these seven areas.  For example,

Learn: Offer your children a variety of toys and play along with them to show how aspects of each toy work.  Do some of the toys your children have include lights, colours, shapes, or sounds?  Help them explore those features!  I have worked in a couple of different day cares in the past and we always made it routine to offer a variety of new and old toys on a rotating basis to help encourage the childrens' development!

Create: Offer your child toys that allow them to use their imagination and participate in make-belief play!  There are a wide range of toys on the market that allow your child to use their mind to change the world around them.  For example, offer your child blocks to play with.  At first, they will likely start by stacking one block on top of the other, but before you know it, they will be building more complex structures like walls, houses, and more!  It will be a joy watching your child hit those developmental milestones through creative and imaginative play!

There are so many milestones that your child goes through, from conception throughout life.  Currently, I'm enjoying the experience of our baby reaching milestones within my womb.  I am trying to treasure each of these moments since I know that time goes by far too fast - and it already has been!  But, when the time comes for our baby to enter the outside world, I'm looking forward to sharing all the many milestones that he or she accomplish throughout their life!

Disclosure: I’m part of the Fisher-Price Play Panel and I receive special perks as part of my affiliation with this group. The opinions on this blog are my own.