caregiver education

A baby and mom enjoy a social game while baby watches mom's face and touches her hair.

Easy Social Games for Babies: Promote Communication and Happiness

Key Points Babies are born ready to connect with the people in their world. Parents and teachers can use social games to instill skills like communication and empathy through play. As a developmental therapist, I know that infants first need a social connection with caregivers before building other developmental skills. Social Games for Babies What…

A toddler strings beads during a manipulative play activity.

Manipulative Play in Early Childhood: Go-To Activities with Amazing Benefits

Key Points Manipulative play is a type of play where children use their hands, fingers, and wrists to move and place small objects or toys. Children problem-solve through actions such as grasping, pushing, and pulling to meet specific goals or outcomes, such as solving a puzzle, completing a shape sorter, stacking a block tower, or…

Child doing small world dramatic play with doll house

5 Key Dramatic Play Benefits: How to Use Pretend Play for Learning

Key Points What is Dramatic Play? Dramatic play is when children use their imagination to take on roles and act out different scenarios, like pretending to be a superhero, parent, animal, or occupation.  Also known as pretend play, make-believe play, or role-playing, it’s a powerful way for kids to explore the world while creatively expressing…

Toddlers explore a heuristic play basket.

11 Powerful Benefits of Heuristic Play for Child Development

Key Points During my infant/toddler CDA (Child Development Credential) training, I first learned about heuristic play. Throughout my years working with children, I’ve continually revisited heuristic play, witnessing its profound impact on their play and learning. Let’s explore those powerful benefits. Then, I welcome you to visit my post on heuristic play examples and the…

Basket of wooden objects for heuristic play activity.

Heuristic Play: Simple, Impactful Ideas for Babies and Toddlers

Heuristic play offers young children their first chance to learn about everyday objects. Through play and exploration, children will build an understanding of items they will use for the rest of their lives. As a developmental therapist with 12 years of experience in classrooms and homes, I’ve witnessed the impact of heuristic play. My interest…

A toddler explores a sorting set during a container play activity.

The Magic of Container Play: Boost Baby & Toddler Learning

As a developmental therapist, I regularly recommend container play to parents and infant/toddler teachers. This simple, open-ended activity has powerful learning benefits, and the best part—children love it! Key Points Definition: What is Container Play? Container play is a type of play where babies and toddlers explore putting objects into containers and dumping them out….