Early childhood development activities in Dubai
Introduction
Early childhood plays an important role in the development of the child. Early childhood is the mold that shapes the future of the child’s cognitive, physical, social, and emotional well-being. The activities and experiences the child is exposed to in early childhood impact their learning and behavioral abilities for the future.
Parents and caregivers play an important role in choosing the right experiences to shape the life of the child. When we hear the wordplay, we often associate it with fun activities as a means of passing the time. However, play is more than a way of passing time. Play is an important tool for childhood development. Right play stimulates brain development, enhances motor skills, and nurtures social connections. Through play, children learn to express emotions, solve problems, and adapt to new situations. Play is a rather natural and simple way for children to explore the world around them, become more creative, and build their self-confidence.
In this blog, we will explore 7 Essential Early Childhood Development Activities for Kids. So please, keep reading.
1. Sensory Play
Sensory play is a kind of play that works by activating and stimulating the senses of the child. Sensory play often focuses on stimulating the hearing, touch, and sight of the child, as these are the senses that are easily accessible. From a young age, a child interacts with its surroundings through the help of five senses.
Sensory play gives the child a good opportunity to communicate and engage with their surroundings to help them develop and grow. Sensory play is an active play that helps build connections within the child’s brain to help them process thoughts and tasks.
Sensory play also helps build abstract thinking skills, observational skills, cognitive skills, fine and gross motor skills, and language. It also helps with the social interaction of the child.
Some of the sensory play activities include the following,
- Creating a sensory bin and filling it with various natural items like rocks, sand, food items, or leaves to help them play and understand the texture of different items.
- Indulge in plants and gardening.
- Participate in taste test challenges.
2. Pre-reading and Reading Comprehension Skills
Pre-reading and reading are some of the most important skills in life. Encouraging the habit of reading through interactive storytelling, reading or listening to audiobooks can be a great way of improving reading skills and getting into the habit of reading.
For early childhood, parents can make use of picture books, create personalized bedtime stories or even act out tales for their child. Using props while telling a story is also a good way of encouraging childhood development. Reading skills in early childhood help improve language and comprehension skills, help improve the parent-child bond and also build imagination.
3. Outdoor Exploration
Outdoor activities and exploring nature in early childhood help improve the child’s physical and mental health. It encourages them to show more interest in the world around them. Outdoor exploration also strengthens the gross motor skills of the child in their early developmental days.
Outdoor exploration with parents also strengthens the bond between the parent and child. Outdoor exploration activities may include taking walks in nature, going on fun trips, visiting playgrounds, playing outdoor games, gardening or participating in scavenger hunts.
4. Role-Playing and Pretend Play
Role-playing and pretend play is one of the fun ways of encouraging childhood development. Role-playing and pretend play helps the child unlock their best and wildest of imaginations, boost social interaction and help improve emotional skills.
We have all done role-playing and pretend-to-play as kids, where we played the roles we loved, like doctor, chef, builder and more. Pretend play, like running a restaurant or a hospital, is also a fun way of fostering imagination and creativity.
Parents can use role-playing and pretend play to improve social skills by encouraging their children to participate in group plays.
5. Puzzle and Problem-Solving Activities
Puzzle and problem-solving activities involve engaging in tasks that challenge a child’s ability to think critically and strategize. These activities often include building blocks, assembling puzzles, matching games, or playing board games.
Engaging in puzzle and problem-solving tasks fosters logical thinking and enhances a child’s ability to focus on a task. These activities also improve spatial awareness, helping children understand shapes, patterns, and relationships between objects. Additionally, solving puzzles or completing challenges builds patience and a sense of accomplishment, boosting their confidence and perseverance.
While choosing puzzles and problem-solving activities, parents must be gentle and gradually introduce tasks as per the child’s development. Parents need to ensure they pick activities that interest their child and help them stay motivated. It is also important for parents to celebrate their child’s little wins during the process.
6. Art and Craft Activities
We all loved arts and crafts activities as children. Art and crafts are the best means to let our imaginations run wild. Activities like cutting, painting, drawing and crafting new things are an excellent way of improving a child’s imagination, cognitive skills and focus. Activities like finger painting, using clay or moulding dough, and making paper items or collages give plenty of opportunities to improve a child’s self-expression. Art and craft activities allow the child to experiment with colours, textures, and forms that nurture and boost their imagination.
Participating in arts and crafts activities helps children develop fine motor skills, such as hand-eye coordination and precision. These activities also serve as an emotional outlet, allowing kids to express feelings they may not yet have the words to describe.
While picking materials and supplies for arts and crafts activities, it is important for parents to choose materials that are appropriate for their child’s age. For children, it is important to use child-safe scissors and non-toxic materials when participating in act and craft activities.
7. Music and Movement
Music and movement activities combine rhythm, music, and physical actions to create an engaging and dynamic way for children to play and learn. For example, you can dance along with your child to songs or explore musical instruments together. These activities encourage children to connect music with motion, allowing them to express themselves creatively while staying active. Additionally, participating with them in such activities also strengthens the parent-child bond.
These activities are excellent for developing motor skills as children learn to control their movements and build coordination. Dancing and rhythmic actions enhance balance and timing, while music helps improve auditory skills.
Parents can encourage music and movement in their children by introducing them to simple instruments or exploring different songs with them. They can also create a special playlist for their child and join them in the experience.
Conclusion
A child is very delicate and needs to be handled with love, patience and care. Early childhood development is the cornerstone of a child’s future and development. The actions of parents and caregivers in childhood shape the future of the child. Hence, for better growth and development of the child, it is important to participate in play. Through activities like sensory play, pre-reading exercises, outdoor exploration, role-playing, puzzles, art, and music, children can build essential cognitive, social, and emotional skills in an enjoyable and natural way. These activities not only enhance their learning capabilities but also nurture creativity, resilience, and self-confidence.
Parents and caregivers can also enrol the child in institutes providing play as a means of brain training to improve their development. Start small, explore what your child enjoys most, and let play be the foundation for their lifelong learning journey.
