Promoting your Child’s Development through the Natural Environment

Have you ever noticed how babies and children are often more interested in playing with simple objects such as paper, your car keys or boxes despite all the toys they have? 

A strategy to promote a child’s development is through free play. Free play is child driven, open ended and unstructured play in which the child is encouraged to explore pre-selected toys or objects. Putting out a small selection of objects can provide the child the opportunity to explore at their own pace.  Research supports that allowing children to safely play with household items can promote their development. This can also help them become more acclimated with the world around them. In addition to age appropriate and developmentally appropriate toys, these objects can encourage exploration and play. 

Kitchen utensils such as spatulas, spoons and tongs 

• Promotes: pouring, mixing and scooping of    various materials

• Beneficial for: imaginary play, fine motor coordination and grasping skills 

Pots, pans, bowls

• Promotes: sorting and grasping skills 

• Beneficial for: imaginary play, sensory play, and bilateral coordination skills

Muffin tins

• Promotes: sorting of various objects 

• Beneficial for: in hand manipulation, grasp and release skills and visual motor skills 

Boxes

• Promotes: play skills

• Beneficial for: motor planning, gross and fine motor strengthening 

Remote control 

• Promotes: finger isolation and cause and effect

• Beneficial for: fine motor coordination 

Clothes

• Promotes: imaginary play and sensory play

• Beneficial for: fine motor coordination, bilateral coordination, body awareness 

Content provided by:  Michelle Penso MS, OTR/L, BCP