Play is a child’s chief method of learning about the world. Even basic forms of play – such as shaking a baby rattle – may offer lessons that can spur a child’s emotional, cognitive, social and motor development.

Children learn by playing on their own, with their parents and/or other caregivers, and with other children. Play tends to be solitary or with parents during infancy and gradually grows to incorporate other children after a child turns 3 or 4 years old.

Newborns can be introduced to simple toys, such as rattles, textured toys, musical toys and unbreakable crib mirrors. Toys that have contrasting colors and patterns and features such as curves can stimulate the child’s vision. Parents can also take a more active role in teaching their child through play. Making funny faces at an infant and smiling can help the child to learn to express similar emotions through imitation.

Children between 1 month and 3 months of age are increasingly alert and curious, and will begin to initiate actions rather than just responding to a parent’s overtures. They are capable of grasping and holding rattles and will begin to swat at and grasp favorite toys.

Between the ages of 4 months and 7 months, children begin to roll over, sit up and reach for things and generally become more active. As a result, parents are urged to create a safe area where a child can play. Babies this age are very likely to pick up objects and bring them to their mouths. For this reason, parents should be especially careful to make sure babies cannot reach (or even see) objects that are small enough to present a danger of choking.

Between the ages 8 months and 11 months, babies become even more mobile and inquisitive through crawling and pulling themselves up. Opportunities for play expand – as do the potential dangers. As children approach their first birthday, they may be able to perform tasks such as bringing two cubes together, placing objects into a container and pulling them out, poking with their index finger, and imitating words and gestures.

Sometime around 1 year to 14 months of age, children speak their first words. Once language skills develop, they can be incorporated into play. During the time a child is 1 to 5 years old, play will gradually become more sophisticated and more social, with peers being invited into the child’s playtime. Parents can help facilitate this process by introducing their child to potential playmates.

Children in this age group also will engage in “symbolic play” by imitating a parent’s actions or playing with play food, dolls and dress-up clothes. By this age, children understand that toys are symbols of things in real life.