Following on from a few cooking experiences last week, Making Burgers and Allergy-Friendly Cupcakes, it was a good time to capitalise on this interest and offer a Fruit & Vegetable Invitation to Play table.
When you look at the fruit sorting activity above you may just see a toy. Don’t get me wrong, I’m grateful for the educational benefits of colour sorting and naming the objects, but what I like to think about when creating opportunities for play is what the underpinning developmental skills are that we can work on. This way, my kids are having fun playing, and in reality we are getting in opportunities for continued development and strength to build a solid foundation.
Crossing the midline is a really important skill, and provides a solid developmental foundation for skills like reading, writing and self-dressing. If you imagine that there is a line down the middle of your body, crossing the midline looks at the ability to cross this line. If you have a young toddler who hasn’t yet developed a dominant hand, you may notice that they reach for objects with whichever hand is closest to the object; or they transfer an object from hand to hand in the middle; or they rotate their torso/trunk as a compensating movement.
Most developmental experts agree that children should have mastered crossing the midline by the age of 3 or 4. If your child’s not quite there yet and you have any concerns, I highly recommend seeing an Occupational Therapist (OT).
I chose doTERRA Wild Orange oil as it fitted in with the theme, and one of its benefits is that it is uplifting to the mind and body. Other oils that might be worth considering, in line with the theme are:
- grapefruit – provides an uplifting aroma
- lemon – promotes feelings of clarity and invigoration
- lime – promotes feeling of balance and emotional wellbeing
If you are interested in purchasing any of these oils for future activities, they can be found here.
I bought this toy a couple of years ago now and the kids still really enjoy it. It has made many an appearance during hospital stays, extended doctor appointments, play dates or quiet time. By rotating toys it makes them feel brand new again. Everything on this invitation to play table was something that I already had.
By incorporating different elements it encourages your child to chose the way in which they would like to play and learn.
Regardless of whether you have specific developmental goals in mind, or you are just interested in having a few minutes of peace as the kids entertain themselves, an Invitation to Play table might be just what you, and your kids need.
Invitation to Play tables spark imagination and creativity. They offer multiple developmental skills in a fun, no-pressure manner. They are fun to play with, and easy to set up. So, what’s stopping you?
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