The different types of play and how they build our little ones brains Part 2
The different types of play and how they build brains.
For links and more info, download my free Play & Toy guide - link in bio.
Celebrating diversity & inclusion everyday but sharing the conversation today for International Day of People with Disability #idpwd #idpwd2022.
4.4 million Australians identify as having a disability.
We need to challenge our own perceptions of disability, help raise awareness & breakdown barriers. And allow our little ones to see us and hear us taking these stands.
Building connection & communication. Even older children crave the things we think they may have out grown! Singing is a beautiful way to play, connect & to build communication skills. It’s also incredibly regulating.
It didn’t surprise me that Gus loves this one on one, but when i watched it back I saw more connection & delight in this interaction than I was expecting.
How to do it:
1. Get face to face (my head was just over his)
2. Match your affect to theirs by using your rate (how fast or slow you sing), volume (how soft or loud) and always be playful. Singing together is a form of play after all.
3. Sing a verse and then pause and wait to see if they will take a turn, either an action or a word. This way you are encouraging them to take a turn, just like a conversation.
4. Add actions and sound effects. Imitating actions comes before words and quite often, sound effects come before words. Plus actions and sound effects are fun and engaging.
5. Be playful, laugh, have fun, make memories 💓
This little song was inspired by @officialblueytv but I adapted some of the words so I could use sounds effects and actions I know little ones enjoy.
Try this out with your child, no matter the age, film it & let me know if you’re surprised with how connected the both of you are 💓
“You are the best game in town and the best toy in the house!”
- Dr Monte Bail
The Wave
We can swim against it or we can surrender to it, letting it carry us wherever it goes. Knowing there will be a moment of stillness to come, understanding that the pull is strong - our instincts are to fight it.
Riding the waves of big feelings & hard moments can bring a sense of peace amoung the chaos.
📸 @withlovebrooke.photography
Balancing questions with comments has a HUGE impact on connection & language development.
This is one of the many tips in my free play & toy guide - link in profile.
👋🏽heeyyyyy,
I’m guessing you’ve landed here because you are interested in knowing more about communicating, feeding & growing with your little one.
I want you to know that everything I share is based on evidence, on over 13 years post-grad experience & on honouring connection first. When I say I have over 13 years experience, I mean I’ve worked with little ones & their parents/carers (as well as other health & medical professionals, educators & more) to help them achieve communication, connection & feeding goals that are important to them.
Being on the floor & at the table with so many little ones & their parents & carers has given me the knowledge & understanding to share tips & insights that Ive seen work (¬ work). I know what communication & feeding development looks like, I know child development & I know how to pivot & playfully guide little ones & their parents & carers.
I do what I do because I genuinely love & care about little ones, parents & families. I am so passionate about letting our little ones be authentic, empowering parents & playing a part in the journey that nourishes little minds, bellies & souls.
I’d love to know, how did you land here? What’s something you’ve liked?
I love a collab & brainstorming with others. This one is courtesy of @proteatherapy & myself. After chatting about how we’d seen the ice burg analogy with other areas of development, we were keen to make one for feeding to highlight just how much underlies this activity we do many times a day.
We hoped it would be helpful to parents & professionals who are walking the feeding journey. We also talked about how useful it can be in highlighting how we often need to work on the underlying (bottom of the ice burg) for a while before we see a shift in the top of the ice burg or before we can really see any changes in our little ones.
