Children don't need an elaborate day out in order to learn and develop – as playing with a cardboard box and some sticky tape can be just as valuable, an expert says. With the summer holidays fast approaching, parents with young children may be feeling the pressure to plan plenty of fun-packed days out to keep the little ones entertained.
But child development expert, Dr Jacqueline Harding, says there are plenty of simple, cost-effective ways to play with youngsters from the comfort of your own home – that can help drive down stress and anxiety levels for both parent and child. Dr Harding, an early childhood expert at Middlesex University London, believes simple eye contact and attention is what children crave – and offers crucial development benefits, from their earliest days with games of peek-a-boo, to more advanced play.
As a result, parents who feel they have to spend money to keep their children engaged are being told to “relax” – as putting too much stress on digging deep and forking out for expensive outings can place too much financial strain on families. And there is no set time limit on how much one-to-one play time a child needs per day – it all depends on the quality of the interactions, and willingness of the parent to participate.
