7 Games to Stimulate Child Development

See suggestions for hands-on activities that stimulate children’s social and intellectual skills

Early childhood is a crucial stage in child development. During this period, children’s brains are highly receptive to stimuli, which is essential for developing skills that will have a significant impact on the future.

However, it is precisely at this stage that parents and guardians face a common problem: the excessive use of screens that, by replacing traditional games, can hinder the development of children.

“Daily play is essential for the physical, mental, social and emotional development of children. Although some still see games as simple entertainment, they are actually essential tools for learning and acquiring important skills,” warns Dr. André Ceballos, neurosurgeon.

According to the expert, it is through play that children explore the world, experiment with new skills and learn to interact with others. He also emphasizes that children who engage in play activities from an early age improve their social and intellectual skills more effectively, acquiring skills such as empathy, attention, communication and tolerance.

To help parents, Dr. André Ceballos suggests some practical activities that stimulate the child’s development. Check it out!

1. Sensory Treasure Chest

Transform a box into a “sensory treasure.” Fill the box with objects of different textures, such as sponges, rubber balls, and metal spoons. Leave the child explore these elements and encourage her to describe the sensations she experiences and feels. “This activity helps develop tactile skills and the ability to express oneself descriptively, essential skills for communication and sensory perception,” explains Dr. André Ceballos.

2. Structured path

Create a “structured path” with different surfaces such as carpet, towel and cardboard and let the child walk barefoot on each texture. According to the doctor, this exercise strengthens sensory perception and motor coordination, helping the child to develop balance and create body awareness.

3. Finger Painting

To do this task you will need to use non-toxic paints so that the child can create works of art with their fingers. This activity can stimulate creativitybut also hand-eye coordination. “Finger painting is a form of artistic expression that helps the child to better understand colors and shapes, as well as improving motor coordination and helping to maintain the ability to concentrate”, underlines the expert.

4. Sound exploration

To work on hearing and differentiating sounds, put different objects in containers, such as rice, beans, and paper, and let the child shake them and hear different sounds. Dr. André Ceballos emphasizes this activity helps with listening skills and listening comprehension. “Recognizing and differentiating sounds is important for language learning and learning development,” she explains.

5. Game of smells

With jars containing different aromas, such as orange, coffee and cinnamon, ask the child to guess the smells. As the expert explains, this game stimulates the sense of smell and olfactory memory, helping the child to improve his associative and memory skills.

6. Tasting blindly

Offer a variety of foods while blindfolded and ask your child to identify flavors. “Blind tasting helps develop the palate and increases confidence in the other senses by allowing the child to focus on sensory cues beyond sight,” says Dr. André Ceballos. This activity is a fun way to introduce new food experiences and can help children become more open to different flavors and textures.

7. Homemade Plasticine

Making homemade modeling clay helps encourage the child create shapes and figures. It is a great way to stimulate creativity and fine motor coordination. “Manipulating clay helps improve manual dexterity and experiment with different textures, encouraging self-expression and imagination,” concludes the expert.

By Alice Veloso

Source: Terra

Ben

Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.