Growth and Play Chart (Early Years)

(Continued from “Good Times with Play”)

Growth and Play Chart (The Early Years

Here are some ideas from the Toy Manufacturer's of America, Inc. Originally prepared by Brian Sutton-Smith in conjunction with Toy Manufacturer's of America, Inc.

Child's Age: O to 18 months:

Operation being tested, believed in and learned during play: Manipulation of objects (mouth play and hand play), exploration (pushing buttons and pulling levers), fitting things together, interpreting things.

Appropriate toys: Rattles, pounding, and stacking toys, squeak toys, floating tub toys, picture blocks, strings of big beads, crib-gym exercisers, push-pull toys, small take-apart toys, nested boxes or cups, stacking toys and rings, books with rhymes, pictures, jingles, musical, and chime toys.

Play and games that you can introduce: Make funny faces and noises; let baby play with your fingers and hair, play "pat-a-cake", catch games, "peek-a-boo," and hiding games; make mirror faces; dance and sing with children; give rides on your stomach; play "losing and finding" things.

Child's Age: 18 months to 3 years:

Operation being tested, believed in and learned during play: Directing vehicles. Directing objects. Organizing play worlds. Simulating other people and creatures. Problem solving. Representing things. Constructing things (connecting similar objects).

Appropriate toys: First tricycle, ride-on toy to straddle, wagon to get into, hobby horse, push-pull toys, sandbox toys, balls, blocks of different sizes and shapes, wading pool and sandbox, child-size play furniture, play appliances, utensils, home-made materials, doll furniture, simple dress-up clothes, stuffed animals, dolls, simple puzzles, games, take-apart toys with large parts, clay and modeling dough, large crayons, blackboard and chalk, simple musical instruments, finger paints, non-electric trains, blocks, tea sets.

Play and games that you can introduce: Pretend-play (create a traffic jam with toy cars); play tag, bounce, catch, and empty-fill games; hide things and let children hide things from you; build something from blocks; misname things and play "guess what it is"; tell stories and let children supply missing words; reverse roles (you be the powerless one); follow-the-leader; guessing games; act out stories; let children imitate your activities (such as washing up and cleaning house).

Child's Age: 3 to 6 years:

Operation being tested, believed in and learned during play: Creating play worlds, modern environments, moving confidently through space, understanding media.

Appropriate toys: Additional dress-up outfits; bathing and feeding dolls; puppets and theaters; grocery store toys; toy phone and toy clock; playhouses; toy soldiers; housekeeping toys; farm, village, and other play sets; small trucks, cars, planes, and boats; simple construction sets; domestic toys; trains; race-car layouts; larger tricycles; other wheeled toys; sleds; wagons; backyard gym sets and jungle gyms; records; phonographs; radios; printing sets; coloring and story books; sketch pads.

Play and games that you can introduce: Reverse roles, make-believe telephone conversation, play hide-and-seek, improvise characters doing routine things, practice motor skills with card and board games, play games of courage (with children, water and climbing), dance and do gymnastics, mimic animals and people, use hand puppets with different voices, listen to and talk about dreams, tell "what-if stories, act out fairy tales.

Reprinted with permission from the National Network for Child Care - NNCC. Lagoni, L. S., Martin, D. H., Maslin-Cole, C., Cook, A., MacIsaac, K., Parrill, G., Bigner, J., Coker, E., & Sheie, S. (1989). Good times at play. In *Good times with child care* (pp. 174-192). Fort Collins, CO: Colorado State University Cooperative Extension.