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Fun and games (4 to 6)

Fun and games (4 to 6)

Your child is now at school for much of the day, where they have a social life. And they probably have quite a busy social calendar outside it too. They’re now more than just happy to share – they enjoy playing with friends.

Skills

They’ve developed a lot of skills, and are able to perform tasks which they used to find fiddly. They’re also much more constructive, so building blocks like Lego are ideal.

Games

Games provide the opportunity for your child to play with other children, as well as to learn. And the great thing is that games can keep two or more children occupied for extended periods of time with the minimum of adult supervision! Things like board games also need rules to make them work – as such, they’re an excellent way of teaching your child to behave within boundaries.

Educational toys

Your child will have developed a healthy interest in the world around them. There is now almost an endless choice of interactive electronic toys – from talking microscopes to talking cuddly toys. Talk to teachers and other parents to find out which toys last the longest, or hold a child’s interest – there’s no sense in spending a fortune on a one-day wonder.

Arts and crafts

A cheap and easy way to entertain your child – they love to draw and paint. Just make sure that materials are non-toxic and this can be good fun for adults too.

Books

Books at this age really are important. Your child’s learning to read at school and will probably bring books back home to read with you. Buying books or borrowing them from the library will help your child develop your child’s interest. Again, ask teachers and other parents for advice on the best books. They’re also excellent value for money, as a child will keep coming back to their favourite stories. You’ll also find that they want books about how things work.

A visit to a museum is often a good time to buy books or toys because they will have been carefully selected for their educational age-group. It’s also something for the child to use to recall the trip, and will remind them what they learnt.