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LOUISIANA DEPARTMENTOF HEALTH & HOSPITALS
Public Information Series
Child’s Play
This public document is published at a total cost of $000.00. ?,000 copies of this public document were published in this first printing at a cost of $000.00. This document was published by the Department of Health and Hospitals Office of Public Health to disseminate information underauthority of P.L. 95-627, Sec. 17 (b)(1). This material was printed in accordance with the standards for printing by state agencies established pursuant to R.S. 43:41.
�� Check�playgrounds�for�safety.�Make�sure�there�are�no�sharp�pieces,�loose�equipment�or�other�things�that�might�hurt�your�child.
�� Hold�your�child’s�hand�when�crossing�the�street�or�other�times�when�injury�is�a�risk,�such�as�when�walking�past�other�children�using�swings.
�� Have�your�child�wear�a�helmet�when�cycling,�skating�or�using�a�scooter.�If�you�are�participating�too,�you�should�be�a�good�role�model�and�wear�a�helmet�as�well.
�� If�it�is�sunny,�have�your�child�wear�a�hat�and�sunscreen�rated�at�least�SPF�15.
�� If�there�are�mosquitoes,�use�insect�repellant�unless�your�child�is�less�than�two�months�old.�Do�not�use�repellant�with�higher�than�30-percent�DEET�content.
“USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer”
Without�the�opportunity�to�play�with�others,�a�child�will�grow�up�without�the�social�skills�needed�to�be�successful�in�school,�work�or�private�life.�As�a�parent,�you�should�provide�frequent�opportunities�for�your�three-�or�four-year-old�to�play�with�others.�Below�are�some�ideas�for�ways�to�socialize�your�child.
�� If�your�child�attends�a�day�care�or�preschool,�make�sure�there�are�other�children�there�his�or�her�own�age�and�that�playing�together�and�sharing�are�both�encouraged.
�� If�you�know�other�families�with�a�preschooler,�set�up�playdates�for�your�children�to�play�together.
�� Go�to�a�playground,�park�or�other�space�where�your�child�can�meet�other�children�and�play�together.
��When�you�are�interacting�with�other�adults,�including�during�meal�times,�include�your�child�and�encourage�them�to�interact.
Playing OutsidePlaying�outdoors�is�a�wonderful�way�for�your�child�to�enjoy�nature�and�be�physically�active�without�worrying�too�much�about�hurting�items�in�your�home.�In�addition�to�playing�on�their�own�with�toys�or�on�a�playground,�there�are�lots�of�playful�activities�you�can�do�together�with�your�child.
��Watering�the�garden�and��picking�vegetables
�� Playing�chase�on�soft�grass
�� Blowing�and�chasing�bubbles
�� Visiting�a�park�or�the�zoo
�� Drawing�on�the�sidewalk�with�chalk
Keeping Safe While OutdoorsPlaying�outdoors�has�lots�of�benefits,�but�parents�should�take�special�care�with�preschoolers�while�outside.
�� Keep�an�eye�on�your�child��at�all�times.
�� Do�not�leave�your�child�alone�near�water.�Empty�all�water�containers,�like�buckets�or�children’s�swimming�pools,�immediately�after�use.
Now that your child is a preschooler, they are more active and social. Preschoolers
learn and develop by playing, so now it’s time to have fun together and with others!
Rev. 6/2015
Three- and four-year-olds love to play!When�a�preschooler�plays,�he�or�she�is:
�� developing�strong�muscles,
�� overcoming�fears,
�� learning�to�make�friends,
�� sharing�feelings�and�ideas,�and
�� working�off�energy.
Preschoolers�also�are�still�undergoing�a�lot�of�brain�development,�and�play�is�when�much�of�that�development�happens.
Active Play, Screen Time and Physical HealthJust�like�adults�need�regular�exercise,�preschoolers�need�active�play�to�stay�healthy.�Being�active�helps�children�stay�at�a�healthy�weight,�makes�them�feel�good�and�helps�them�sleep�at�night.
With�more�access�than�ever�to�TVs,�computers,�smart�phones�and�video�games,�many�children�are�getting�too�much�screen�time�and�not�enough�active�play.�Children�who�spend�too�much�time�using�these�devices�have�less�energy,�are�more�likely�to�be�overweight�and�may�not�do�as�well�in�school�when�they�are�older.�You�should�keep�your�child’s�screen�time�to�a�minimum�and�not�allow�more�than�two�hours�a�day�of�TV,�computers,�video�games�or�other�forms�of�screen�time.�Remember,�even�educational�videos�or�games�count�toward�the�two-hour�maximum.
Play Safely, Play TogetherNot�every�neighborhood�has�safe�places�for�children�to�play,�and�playing�with�your�child�or�being�present�when�he�or�she�plays�with�others�will�always�be�safer.�Enjoy�this�time�in�your�child’s�life�and�make�time�to�play�somewhere�together�daily.
Three-Year-Olds and PlayAt�three�years�old,�your�child�is�learning�all�the�time.�You�are�your�child’s�role�model.�He�or�she�watching�whatever�you�do�and�tries�to�do�it�too.�This�can�be�adorable�sometimes�and�frustrating�other�times.�Remember�that�children�learn�by�doing�and�that�mistakes�are�part�of�that.�Remember�to�help�them�learn�to�do�things�safely�and�to�help�them�recover�from�their�mistakes.
Help your child learn to do things the right way.A�three-year-old�enjoys�repetition�and�will�do�things�over�and�over�again.�This�is�normal�and�will�help�your�child�master�different�skills.
Three-year-olds�like�to�make�friends�but�haven’t�learned�to�share.�Encourage�and�facilitate�sharing�but�understand�that�your�child�may�get�upset�if�he�or�she�feels�that�his�or�her�things�are�being�threatened.
Three-year-olds�enjoy�lots�of�playtime.�Remember,�playing�is�how�they�learn�and�grow.�At�three,�your�child�may�enjoy:
�� ball�games;
�� dolls;
�� sprinklers;
�� dress�up;
�� running,�jumping,�and�climbing;
�� drawing�and�coloring;
�� playgrounds;
�� asking�questions;
�� taking�walks�and�smelling�flowers�or�feeding�birds;�and
�� playing�pretend�and�making�up�stories.
At�age�three,�your�child�will�also�enjoy�counting,�and�you�can�make�just�about�anything�into�a�counting�game.�You�and�your�child�can�count:
�� toys�as�you�pick�them�up,
�� buttons�as�you�button�them�or�
�� bubbles�as�your�child�pops�them.
Three-year-olds�also�love�books,�so�be�sure�to�have�age-appropriate�books�to�read�together�with�them.�Books�about�animals�are�great,�and�your�child�is�now�old�enough�to�have�interests�of�his�or�her�own.�Ask�the�staff�at�your�local�library�to�help�you�find�a�book�that�your�child�will�love.�Family�photo�albums�are�also�a�great�way�to�teach�your�child�about�his�or�her�family.
Four-Year-Olds and PlayAt�four�years�old,�your�child�is�doing�more�and�more�for�himself�or�herself�now.�Don’t�worry,�they�still�love�playing�with�you�and�having�fun�together.�Your�four-year-old�may�even�be�able�to�help�you�prepare�a�meal,�snacks�or�clean.
You�may�have�noticed�now�that�your�child:
�� likes�to�show�off�new�skills,
�� can�pay�attention�longer�and
�� still�likes�playing�with�other�children�and�can�share�better�now.
Four-year-olds�still�enjoy�lots�of�playtime.�Just�like�younger�children,�playing�is�how�they�learn�and�grow.�At�four,�your�child�may�enjoy:
�� riding�a�tricycle,
�� playing�school�and�writing�short�words,
�� dolls,
�� kicking�a�ball,
�� singing,
�� taking�things�apart�and�putting�them�back�together�again,
�� hearing�stories,
�� drawing�or�coloring,
�� building�with�blocks�and
�� dancing.
At�four,�your�child�will�also�be�able�to�play�games�with�rules.�Playing�games�with�rules�helps�children�learn�how�to�think�and�to�follow�rules�later�in�life.�Playing�games�with�rules�with�you�first�can�help�them�learn�to�play�with�others.�Remember�to�make�it�positive,�even�if�rules�are�sometimes�broken.�Games�your�child�may�like�to�play�include:
� Simon Says�or�Follow the Leader;
�� Simple�card�games�like�Go Fish�or�Old Maid;
�Musical Chairs;
� Red Light, Green Light;�and
�� easy�board�games�like�Candy Land�or�Chutes and Ladders.
Four-year-olds�still�love�books,�and�like�exciting�or�funny�stories�a�lot.�They�also�enjoy�reading�picture�books�that�they�can�understand�on�their�own.
Learning to Play with OthersOne�of�the�most�important�thing�for�a�child�is�to�learn�to�play�with�others.�A�child�learns�by�playing,�and�by�playing�with�others�he�or�she�learns�socialization,�the�skill�he�or�she�will�need�to�work,�make�friends�or�otherwise�interact�with�other�people�throughout�his�or�her�entire�life.