Imaginative fulfilment with Barbie as a toy need not rely on parents investing in an entire Barbie world of branded objects.
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Children can transform ordinary items into extraordinary play scenes with Barbie and Barbie-like dolls.
Tech toys may claim to be educational – but those claims often aren’t backed by science.
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Two experts on children’s play explain why you should be skeptical of toys that are advertised as being educational, and what to look for instead.
There’s no expert consensus on whether screen time is good, bad or somewhere in between.
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Parents should keep an eye on how screen-based activities influence their child’s development and behaviour.
The folded paper decorated with messages, numbers and fortunes printed under the flaps can spark conversation at gatherings or be given as a birthday card.
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How to make a ‘fortune teller’ or ‘chatterbox’ with children, and why the paper activity targets many developmental domains at once.
‘Purposeful play’ could look like children gaining opportunities to develop fine motor skills and cognitive abilities through talking about their inquiry and pursuits.
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Encouraging a child to hold their paint brush to develop a pincer grip while the child is involved in painting is one example of guided play.
Writing cards, notes and love letters contributes to well-being and happiness.
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Handwritten letters enhance relationships among people of all ages, and help children become empowered and inspired through the power of the pen.
Children learn through exploring the world with their hands — and they develop important fine motor skills through this.
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Unparalleled elegance and versatility in the design of the human hand, and the hand’s connections with the brain, lie behind how humans learn to read and write.
Fine motor play builds strength and endurance in muscle memory needed for literacy tasks like putting pencil to paper.
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For learners in the early stages of reading, the best way to counteract the loss of literacy skills over the summer is not by forcing study but by boosting play that develops fine motor skills.
Parenting win: Your children leave home and say, ‘I loved family time when I was little. Every Friday night was dinner and games.’
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A regular family ritual like a dinner and games night contributes to the rhythm and predictability of life and becomes part of a family’s unique DNA.