How to play with kids: An age-by-age guide to engaging with your child

We’ve always believed that play is a superpower. But, just like all those with superpowers, sometimes even the youngest of heroes can take a little nudging. As a parent, when thinking about playtime with your kids, consider their age, interests and the skills they’re developing. And choose activities that help them learn and have fun at the same time! Playing with kids is about connecting with them on their level, understanding their developmental stage and interests to ensure fun and meaningful play. 

The importance of play is evident in how it helps children learn new skills, express creativity and build relationships – which are essential skills to their upbringing. However, many parents seem to find themselves bored with repetitive activities that may not be stimulating for them. Balancing engagement with your child while finding enjoyment in the process is key to making playtime rewarding for both. Here are our tips on how to play with kids! 

Table of Contents 

• How to play with infants (0–12 months) 
• How to play with toddlers (1–3 years) 
• How to play with preschoolers (3–5 years) 
• Tips for meaningful play 
• Frequently asked questions 

How to play with infants (0–12 months) 

In the first 12 months of a baby’s life, they begin building brain connections, learning about the world around them, and developing physical, emotional, and communication skills. And play supports development across these four core areas! Understanding what to do with kids during this stage can enhance their development by strengthening neural pathways. This approach ensures your baby is not only learning effectively but also enjoying a rich variety of new experiences that promote growth. 

Play activities for newborns (0–3 months) 

• Face-to-face play: Keep play simple for newborns by simply engaging your baby by making eye-contact, smiling at them, and talking softly to encourage bonding and communication skills. Knowing how to play with kids at this age can build a strong foundation. 
• Gentle sounds: Babies enjoy being near you, simply talk to them about what you’re doing while pottering around the room or use soft music to stimulate auditory development and provide comfort. 
• Tummy time: Place your baby on their tummy to strengthen neck and shoulder muscles, promoting physical development. 

Play activities for 3–6-month-olds 

• Sensory play: Stimulating all your babies’ senses with sensory toys like a sensory bin or playthings with different textures and colors can stimulate cognitive growth. 
• Gentle touch: Massage, tickle, cuddle or blow raspberries to enhance their sense of touch and foster emotional bonding. 
• Gentle bouncing: Hold your baby securely and bounce gently to offer soothing movement and promote physical awareness. 

Play activities for 6–12-month-olds 

• Peek-a-boo: Get ready for giggles with peek-a-boo! Play simple games like peek-a-boo or hide objects to help babies understand object permanence and engage in social interaction. 
• Cause-and-effect games: Use toys that respond to actions, like rattles, rolling ramps or buttons, to help develop problem-solving skills. 
• Bath toys: Babies love playing with water, so add some toys to bath time to enhance the fun and excitement! 

How to play with toddlers (1–3 years) 

Play continues to play a crucial role for toddlers aged 1 to 3, serving as a vital component of their continuous brain development. It's essential for building physical coordination, emotional regulation, language skills, and social relationships. Knowing how to play with kids in these age groups can make playtime even more enriching. 

Different types of play can help refine physical coordination through activities like climbing and running, aid emotional regulation as toddlers learn to express and manage feelings, and foster language skills through interactive play and storytelling. And these skills are all important to reaching important toddler milestones. 

Play activities for 1-year-olds 

The play activities for 1-year-olds focus on sensory exploration and simple motor skills. To better understand what your child could be achieving at this age, explore toddler development milestones at 1 year old for detailed insights. 

• Kitchen drumming: Get musical with improvised instruments like pots, pans, plastic bowls, wooden spoons or an improvised LEGO DUPLO shaker! Create fun rhythms while enhancing auditory skills and physical coordination, win-win! 
• Filling and dumping: Provide your toddler with some cups or containers and objects for a fun scooping-and-pouring activity. This helps develop their fine motor skills and understanding volume! 
• Expanded sensory play: Introduce varied textures and materials like sand, water, or rice to stimulate sensory exploration and cognitive growth. Consider building a busy board for hours of fun! 
• Shape sorters: Encourage problem-solving and spatial awareness by matching shapes to their corresponding slots. For a creative experience, you and your toddler can make your own shape sorter. 
• Stacking blocks: Stacking blocks and throwing them around is a favorite of toddlers. Let them develop hand-eye coordination and creativity as they build towers and structures.  
• Push-and-pull toys: Push-and-pull toys like carts and toy cars enhance balance and gross motor skills with toys your toddler can move around.  

Play activities for 2-year-olds 

2-year-olds benefit from activities that challenge their growing mobility and introduce basic problem-solving. Reading more about the milestones for 2-year-olds can help you tailor activities to support their development effectively. 

• Simple puzzles: At 2-years-old your toddler is ready to dive into the world of puzzles. Watch their eyes light up when they find the perfect fit! Boost their problem-solving skills and hand-eye coordination in the most fun way. 
• Dance & freeze: Turn up the music and let the dance party begin! Encourage your toddler to groove to the beat, then shout “freeze!” for a giggle-filled pause. This playful activity enhances physical coordination and listening skills while having a blast. 
• Clay and stickers: Unleash creativity with colorful clay and a rainbow of stickers! Let your child mold shapes and decorate them with stickers, sparking imagination and fine motor skills. It’s a hands-on masterpiece waiting to happen! 
• Block building activities: Whether it’s constructing an impressive tower, a wobbly domino line, or a full-on train track, building blocks are an easy gateway to creativity. Consider a “copy the building”-block activity, if your toddler needs a little push to get their creativity going, 
• Pretend play: Step into a world of make believe where anything is possible! Whether it’s a daring astronaut or a magical fairy, pretend play lets kids explore roles and scenarios. An easy way to get started is with a simple imitation game, imitation is a great way for toddlers to learn! 

Play activities for 3-year-olds 

By age 3, play becomes more complex, incorporating imaginative scenarios and collaborative tasks that build social skills and creativity. Check out milestones for 3-year-olds to ensure your playtime activities align with their developmental needs. 

• Memory games: Challenge your little one to match cards or remember specific sequences. Memory games like that help improve recall abilities and attention span, making learning fun and engaging. 
• Storytelling and word games: Unleash the power of imagination with storytelling! Encourage your toddler to create fantastical tales or play silly word games or learn the alphabet in a fun way to expand their vocabulary and sparking creativity 
• Build a fort: Transform your living room into a fortress of fun! Let your child gather pillows and blankets to construct their little secret hideaway, this is the most fun way to exploring design and problem-solving while embarking on an epic imaginary quest.
  For a miniature version of a fort, check out how to build a friendship fort from LEGO DUPLO bricks! 
• Indoor obstacle courses: Set up a thrilling indoor course with cushions, chairs, maybe even tunnels, to create a course where your child can jump, crawl, and balance – boosting their physical skills in a fun way. 

How to play with preschoolers (3–5 years) 

Even as your toddler grows, play remains their primary vehicle for development. Throughout their formative years, they've been learning through play. As older toddlers, they now have the opportunity to test boundaries, expand their vocabulary, and practice social skills. Here are some activities to support their learning through play journey: 

Play activities for 3–5-year-olds: 

• Bake together: Involve your child in simple baking tasks like stirring and measuring. It’s a fun way to teach basic math, following instructions and teach them responsibility (as cleanup will be necessary!).  
• Read together: Dive into interactive books that spark imagination. Encourage your toddler to ask questions and predict what happens next. 
• Introduce simple games: Play classics like tic-tac-toe, “the floor is lava”, or simple boardgames to develop strategic thinking and physical coordination. These games are perfect for engaging their minds and comprehension skills. 
• Music and movement: Combine music with movement by listening to songs like “Head, shoulders, knees, and toes” or “If you’re happy and you know it...”. This promotes rhythm, coordination and comprehension skills. 

Tips for meaningful play 

There are many different types of play, so if you’re struggling to stay engaged in play with your toddler, here are some tips that could help with staying focused and engaged with the activity for longer and create meaningful play. 

• Follow your child’s lead: If you’re not sure what to do with kids, the most important thing is to let them choose activities and guide the play. This fosters independence and ensures they engage in something that truly interests them. Go with the flow! 
• Ask questions: Encourage conversation by asking open-ended questions about their play. This stimulates thinking and keeps the interaction lively. 
• Prioritize open-ended toys: Open-ended toys like blocks or art supplies give you the freedom to play in many different ways, helping to stay engaged for longer. 
• Keep play unstructured: Create opportunities for free play without rigid rules. This works especially well when using open-ended toys and nurtures creativity and problem-solving skills as children invent their own games and stories. 

Play is a powerful tool that evolves with your child’s age, supporting their growth across physical, emotional, and cognitive domains. By understanding how to engage your child in age-appropriate activities, you can enhance their development and make playtime rewarding for both of you.