Playrific®

Stock your child’s playground with sites that relate to his favorite subjects – favorite places and activities, beloved stuffed animals, toys, and pets, themes of favorite books, things he likes to talk or pretend about. Choose a mix of items – some that appeal to his imagination or humor, and others that provide real images and lots of interesting information. Pick a few sites that intrigue you – so that you can learn together.

Join your child as he explores these sites. With a toddler, you might want to focus on naming interesting objects, naming and imitating actions, and telling simple stories. Be sure to let your child “drive” the computer and take the lead in naming, pointing, imitating, and asking “What’s that?” Help him find lots of examples that fit into his favorite collections or categories (dinosaurs, train stuff, teddy bears and their friends,or whatever intrigues him.)

With a preschooler or older child, ask and elicit questions that will extend vocabulary and understanding. “I wonder why….” “How does that work?” “What else do you want to know?” Search for answers to his questions together – on the computer, at the library, or by asking experts. Join your child in making up new endings to stories, or using the information you discover to create stories of your own.”

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About Betty Bardige

Betty is a developmental psychologist, educator, child advocate and author of numerous publications including Talk to Me, Baby! How You Can Support Young Children’s Language Development. She also serves as vice-president of the A.L. Mailman Family Foundation, which focuses on early childhood years. Betty is a member of the Playrific Advisory Board.

Here are related books you might be interested in:

• Talk to Me, Baby!: How You Can Support Young Children’s Language Development, by Betty Bardige.
• Your Child at Play Series of Books, by Marilyn Segal.