Development and learning through play

If adults can satisfy a baby's essential needs, for example hunger, this will help the baby feel calm. In turn this will help the baby focus on learning about the world around them by listening, looking and feeling.

Development is not just about growth, it's about gaining and perfecting a range of skills and abilities. Theorists such as Montessori, Piaget, Vygotsky and Winnicott all recognise play as fundamentally important for children's development.

Exploratory play is important for sensory development, hand eye coordination and fine movements. For instance a 3 month old lying under a baby gym gains an understanding of the permanence of objects and how they move through space.

Cognition

Cognition 0-8 weeks -
New-borns can cry a lot! Responding to them seems to help them grow up to be calmer, more secure and more receptive to learning. It's complicated though as overstimulation can be overwhelming and make them cry. Feeding will quieten a crying baby and sucking will soothe a distressed baby.

Cognition 2-6 months -
The baby gains an understanding of the permanence of objects and how they move through space, e.g. kicking a blanket or holding a rattle.

Cognition 6-12 months -
Babies learn through repetition e.g. dropping a beaker cup off the high chair. Throwing objects into the bath or out of their cot.

Cognition 12-18 months -
Hippocampus is developed enough for recall of actions and events. Object Permanence influences play. e.g. They will want to hold the car keys even when they are put away in a safe place.

Touch

Touch 0-8 weeks -
Very sensitive to touch, especially around face. Cuddling, holding, stroking will all help the brain develop.

Touch 2-6 months -
Cuddles and hugs are important. Baby enjoys different surface texture, soft, crinkly, noisy. Also enjoys bath time, water play and massage touch. They derive more obvious enjoyment and pleasure from feeding and will pause from milk feeds to smile and gurgle.

Touch 6-12 months -
Babies should be given interesting things to touch, smell and put in the mouth. Babies also like to put objects in and out of containers. Messy play and self-feeding become very absorbing.

Touch 12-18 months -
The process of play is important, not the end result, so toys which allow exploration are great, e.g. stacking, building and knocking down blocks. Carers should be a secure base from which toddlers can return from solitary play and exploration. Opportunities to colour-in, turn pages, finger paint and help with cooking are great.

Hearing

Hearing 0-8 weeks -
Babies are sensitive to parents’ voices before birth and they listen attentively to sounds and voices. Talking to baby during routines, singing and taking turns helps develop brain connections to understand language.

Hearing 2-6 months -
Babies begin to coo and actively take turns. They begin to recognise some words. Parents often talk slower and in more high pitched tones. Music can be soothing, but loud or continuous background noise should be avoided.

Hearing 6-12 months -
Reading stories and pointing out pictures, singing and playing with movement are important at this age.

Hearing 12-18 months -
Receptive speech develops quickly and, at this age, they understand much more than they can say. Words begin to expand into a sentences and this should be incorporated into play.

Vision

Vision 0-8 weeks -
Babies can track or follow movement 9-12 inches from face. They likes to follow faces best. They are drawn to contrasting colours e.g. black and white – baby’s gaze will often drift to hairline of face due to the contrast.

Vision 2-6 months -
Everyday objects are interesting to babies. To maximise this toys should be introduced one at a time.