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Characteristics of Infant/Toddler Play

Characteristics of Infant/Toddler Play. Betsy Beall. Motor Play. Infants first engage in motor play as they gain control of their bodies. One of the first manifestations of motor play is playing with the toes and fingers. Fine-motor development enables infants to grasp and explore toys.

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Characteristics of Infant/Toddler Play

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  1. Characteristics of Infant/Toddler Play Betsy Beall

  2. Motor Play • Infants first engage in motor play as they gain control of their bodies. • One of the first manifestations of motor play is playing with the toes and fingers. • Fine-motor development enables infants to grasp and explore toys.

  3. Object Play • Interest in object play begins at around 4 months. • First activities with objects include mouthing, shaking, and banging of all objects. • Between 7-12 months, infants develop the ability to use both hands in object play. • During the second year, toddlers begin exploration play which includes books, dolls, stuffed animals, and toys for water play.

  4. Social Play • Caregivers are the first play partners for infants. • Social play begins with simple vocalization exchanges. • By about 8 months, patty cake and peek-a-boo games begin. • By the end of the first year, give and take, as well as, point and name games emerge. • Play with objects is a major factor in social play. Toys facilitate social interactions between peers in play as toys are offered and accepted.

  5. Symbolic Play • Symbolic play begins to emerge around 1 year of age. • First examples of symbolic play include actions by the infants themselves, such as pretending to drink a bottle or eat. • By age 2, toddlers begin to engage in parallel symbolic play with peers. • Social play, object play, and language acquisition help facilitate symbolic play.

  6. Gender Differences in Play • Once children engage in gender-specific play, they tend to play with same gendered peers more and less with opposite gendered peers. • Sex-type play choices can be seen around age 2. Boys tend to spend more time playing with blocks, cars, trucks, guns, and manipulative objects, while girls spend more time playing with dolls, stuffed animals, and art materials.

  7. Creativity and Play • For toddlers, creative activities such as, art, music, and dramatic play are important aspects of their exploratory play development. Resources Frost, J. L., Wortham, S., & Reifel, S. (2008). Play and Child Development, 3rd ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ. Pearson

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