Playing and Learning

Information on the following page was originally developed by a team that created a website for families focused on “raising deaf kids”. Content may have been edited or updated. For more information, see About Us.

Read this page to find more about:

Playing and Learning
How to Play and Learn with your Child
Playing and Learning Tips
Playing and Learning Ideas

Parents often tell their children that working hard will help them grow. Playing and learning with your child is “work” that teaches your child in a different way. Sometimes learning and playing is called center time, or floor time. Read this section to find out more about playing and learning with your child.

Playing and learning is important for every child. But it can really help your child if he has trouble:

Talking and playing with other children
Giving or receiving attention
Sharing or showing his feelings

Playing and Learning can help your child with many things. It can help him:

Communicate with other people.
Think and learn.
Learn how to really use his hands, arms and legs (motor skills).
Understand his feelings.
Listen and follow directions.

When you play with your child, you:

Follow your child's lead and play at what he is interested in.
Encourage your child to interact with you.
Try to make the activities have two-way communication.

How to Play and Learn with Your Child

Who can play and learn?

Playing and learning is good for all children!
Children with different developmental needs can play and learn. This is because you can make the activities match your child's abilities.

What is the most important thing about playing and learning?

All learning is based on language.
You need to use the same language that your child understands and communicates in. This may be sign language, spoken English, or both.
The communication is more important than the activity!
Play with your child! Always talk and/or sign and tell him what's happening as you play. Talk about the toys and the actions.

When can your child play and learn?

You can play and learn at any time:

Before or after school or work
Before, during, or after meals
Before, during, or after bath time
In the car
In the grocery store
Whenever you have time!

Whenever you decide to play and learn, remember:

Play and learn every day.
Play and learn for as long as the child remains interested. Follow your child’s lead.

What are the rules of playing and learning?

There are no set rules for playing and learning. Different children need different rules. When you make up rules for your child, remember:

Have consistent rules for playing and learning. Your child should know what is allowed and what isn't. For example, throwing blocks as people is not allowed, but tossing blocks in a bucket is allowed. Consistent rules help your child:

Feel safe and comfortable.
Understand the real world.

Make playing and learning a positive experience. This helps your child be creative and want to learn more.
Make playing and learning a part of everyday life.

Why should you play and learn with your child?

Playing and learning is child centered. It is not teacher or adult centered.
You follow your child's lead and do what interests him. Then he will join you when you start to play in new ways.
Playing and learning helps your child to think on his own and be creative.

Playing and Learning Steps

It may help to follow the steps on this page when you play and learn with your child. First, let’s look at an image of the main steps in the communication ‘circle’ as you play with your child. The green circle shows where the cycle begins.

Watch your child

Before you play and learn with your child, watch and listen to him. Find out what his mood is. Look to see if he is:

Relaxed or outgoing
Withdrawn or not communicating
Very excited and energetic

Use open circles of communication with your child

After you decide what mood your child is in:

Approach him with words and actions that fit his mood
Let him know you know how he feels
Start playing with what interests him at the moment

Follow your child's lead

Be an assistant to your child as he plays:

Let him direct the action of playing and learning
This helps him to feel understood
He will feel in control of what happens to him

Extend and expand play with your child

As you play, build on what your child is doing:

Make encouraging comments
This will help him talk about his ideas
Ask questions about what is happening
This helps his creative thinking

Have your child close the circle of communication

You open the circle of communication when you start playing and learning with your child. He closes the circle when he builds on things you say or do:

He does this by reacting to what you say or do
Many circles of communication are opened and closed when you play and learn
This helps him to understand and use two-way communication

Playing and Learning Ideas

There are many things you can do with your child when you play and learn

Use this special play to help him learn especially for:

Things he expects or waits for you to do.
Things he can already do for himself.

Your child can play and learn when he does daily activities like:

Dressing or undressing
Eating a meal
Riding in the car
Leaving or going home
Taking a bath
Getting ready for bedtime

Try these playing and learning activity ideas with your child:

Hide his shoes from their usual place.
Mix puzzle pieces from two or three puzzles together.
When it's time for a bath, have him fill the bathtub with water.
Start to put his socks on his hands. Laugh about it and encourage him to put the socks on his feet.
Have him set the table before meals.

Pick a topic. This will help him to:

Learn about a new topic or idea.
Better understand something that he doesn't know about.
Explore the world around him.

For example, if the playing and learning topic is wood:

Discuss wood and look around and help your child find three things made of wood.
Build a house out of wood. Maybe it will be pencils, wood craft sticks, or wood blocks. Maybe it will be twigs from outside.