Locations: Indoor or outdoor

Promotes: Social development

Before toddlers can play with other children, they need to learn to play beside them. This skill is called “parallel play.”

How to play
Parallel play occurs when two toddlers play alongside each other. At first glance, it may not appear like they are interacting. But if you look a bit more closely, you might notice that if one picks up a block, the other is likely to mimic the action.

Tricks and advice
If you’ve scheduled a playdate for your toddler, don’t be dismayed if he doesn’t seem to be playing directly with the other child. He’s doing exactly what he needs to be doing to learn about getting along with others. Be sure to supervise the activity and keep plenty of toys available. Keep the playdate time to a maximum of one hour or so, since kids at this age tend to have short attention spans.

Learning and growing
Parallel play is often a first step in your toddler developing strong social relationships outside the family. It generally begins right around the time your toddler starts mimicking others’ behaviors, such as feeding his dolls or talking on the phone. Order will become important to your child during this time frame as well, so don’t be surprised if you find your toddler playing by lining up his toys in order or only wanting to color with certain crayons at a time.

It’s important to keep in mind that at this age a toddler is not yet skilled at interacting socially with other children, and playing alongside peers will be how he learns to take on more sociable tasks, like sharing, leading, and following.

What you'll need
A selection of toys that may encourage interactive play, such as blocks or stuffed animals.

Photo by ???????? Janko Ferlič on Unsplash

Potty training can feel like a frustrating, time-consuming struggle for a child. It interrupts playtime, there are all these new rules, and the worst part is when there’s an accident in a public place.

And it’s probably no walk in the park for you either!

Potty training is a big emotional and physical milestone. Knowing what thoughts are going through your child’s mind can help you understand how to potty train her more effectively.

Child thought: This is no fun!
Your child is having a blast playing, when suddenly she’s whisked away to the bathroom for potty training, an activity that’s both stressful and confusing. Your child may be scared to poop because her stool is hard or she remembers a time when she was constipated. It’s no wonder that she has the occasional accident.

Child thought: But that’s my best poop ever!
You may think of poop and pee as, well, flushable. From your child’s perspective, those are things she created. A lot of hard work went into them, too! She may consider that poop on par with her latest finger painting … and you want to flush it down the drain. How rude!Child thought: Is there a monster in that bowl?

Once your child manages to go in the potty, she’s got to flush, which can be pretty scary. All that noise and swirling water! Maybe there’s a big monster lurking in the toilet, waiting for her to sit down so he can bite her. Imaginations can run wild, especially if there’s an older sibling spinning scary tales about the potty.

Child thought: This is a lot of work!

Her playtime has been interrupted, she’s survived the scary toilet monster, and now she’s got to wipe? And pull up her pants? And wash her hands?! You’ve got to be kidding, mom! Potty training is a lot of work, and there are many new skills for your child to master. It can be overwhelming -- or just annoying.

Child thought: Uh-oh …
Once potty training begins, your child will start to understand that it’s better to do her business in the potty. She gets rewarded for it, and you’re oh-so-proud. So if she slips up and has an accident, she may be embarrassed or scared that you’ll be mad. Potty training means a whole lot to Mom and Dad, and she doesn’t want to disappoint you!

Making potty training work
Keeping in mind that your child may be confused, annoyed, and a little intimidated by potty training goes a long, long way. Explain what poop and pee are made of and why we flush them down the toilet. Take the fear away from flushing, and dress your child in clothes that are easy to take off and put on. Above all else, be sure to reward and praise your child for going in the potty, but never make a big deal out of accidents.

You’re no stranger to baby games. You’ve made a million funny faces, shaken a rattle until your arm ached, and sung so many silly songs that your voice grew hoarse. Playing with your baby is one of the best parts of parenthood, but it’s normal to reach a moment where you think, “I’m totally out of ideas!”

If you’re looking for new ways to interact with and engage your baby, try these creative and free suggestions.

Words, sounds, and voices

One easy way to engage your baby is to play the narration baby game. For example, when unloading the dishwasher, say, “Mommy is putting away the dishes. Look at this white square -- it’s a plate!” Or walk around the house, pick up a variety of objects, state their names, and hand them to your baby to investigate. Just be sure to never let your baby play with an object that’s small enough to fit entirely in his mouth, since that’s a choking hazard.

Reading is another great activity to help with cognitive development. Although you are probably dying to know what happens to that very hungry caterpillar, don’t worry if your baby loses focus before the end. For him, reading is more about sharing the experience than getting through the story.

Sensory experiences

At this age, it’s important to engage your baby’s five senses: touch, sight, sound, taste, and smell. Hang out in your closet and let your baby run his fingers over all the different fabrics. Sit under a tree and stare at the leaves. Other fun baby activities include pulling out pots and pans of all sizes and tapping on each one, letting your baby hear how different objects make unique noises. You can also let your baby sniff fruits and vegetables as you slice them to help develop his sense of smell.

Floor time

Spread a soft blanket out on the floor and place your baby on his tummy. “Tummy time” is very important for motor development, as it engages neck and back muscles and helps prepare your baby for crawling. Some babies fuss on their stomachs, so get down on your baby’s level and interact with him to help keep him happy.

Get creative

Sometimes parents feel pressure to buy their children new and expensive toys, but if you look around your house, there are tons of everyday items you can use to safely engage your child in baby play. Whether you’re making a tower out of measuring cups, building a fort from sheets, or rolling an orange around the kitchen floor, every way you engage your baby is the right way.

The best part of being a parent is looking at the world with fresh eyes. Get creative and let the good times roll.

Photo by Robert Collins on Unsplash

The thought of traveling with an infant tends to make most new parents wary, but the truth is, young babies are often very good travelers because they sleep so much. So if you think you can’t take your new baby on a plane, relax. With a little planning, the whole family can enjoy your little one’s first adventure in air travel.

Here are a few tips to help smooth the way:

• Keep hands clean. This goes for everyone in the family, including your baby. Given your infant’s fledgling immune system, the biggest concern when traveling is the germs she’ll come into contact with. So wash everyone’s hands often and bring plenty of hand sanitizer and sanitizing moist towelettes for those times when a restroom isn’t readily available.
  
  
• Bring your own diaper-changing pad. This will help keep germs at bay when using public changing areas.
  
  
• Use a child safety seat. The safest place for your infant on a plane is in a government-approved child safety seat, not in your lap.
  
  
• Ease popping ears. When air pressure changes during takeoff and landing, it can cause ears to pop, which can be unsettling and uncomfortable for your baby. Since swallowing helps rebalance air pressure, you can ease discomfort by breastfeeding your infant or offering a bottle, pacifier, or even one of your fingers to suck.
  
  
• Pack extra. Be sure to bring a few more diapers than you think you’ll need, plenty of wet wipes, and extra outfits for your child, just in case. Pack these items in your carry-on, not your checked-in luggage, and don’t forget your little one’s must-haves, like favorite toys, baby games, and pacifiers.
  
  
• Prepare for jet lag. Make sure everyone gets plenty of rest before the trip. To help your baby sleep, try to adjust her schedule two to three days before you leave, then adopt the new local time (while planning for plenty of naps in between) as soon as you arrive.
  
  
• Arrange a relaxed schedule. Plan to check in and arrive at the airport early, and do take advantage of early boarding, which is often offered to families with children. Pick flights with long layovers to avoid having to make a mad dash across the airport to catch a connection. Then relax and enjoy your trip!

Just because your newborn can’t lift her head or grab a toy doesn’t mean she’s not interested in playing. Infants spend a lot of time sleeping and eating, but when they’re alert they love to explore. Babies love interacting with people and the world around them, and as a new parent, there’s nothing quite as special as watching your child discover something for the first time.

But it’s not all fun and games -- there’s a purpose to the play, too. The act of exploring helps develop important cognitive and physical skills.

Baby games: 1 month old or under
Introduce your little one to the “baby in the mirror,” who just happens to look a lot like her! Newborns love to study their own reflections and can look at their features over and over without getting bored. If you put a mirror in your baby’s crib, just be sure it’s unbreakable.

Infants are also fascinated by mobiles. Choose one with bright, contrasting colors, and if it’s above your baby’s crib, be sure that it’s out of reach (she’ll be sitting and pulling up before you know it!).

Just like adults, babies love listening to music. You can jam to more upbeat tunes when your baby is alert, but switch to softer sounds when she’s sleepy. You can hold your baby in your arms or in a sling and dance to the music, too.

Baby massage is one of the best baby games out there. Gently touching your baby’s arms and legs helps build connections in her brain and makes her feel safe and secure. Who doesn’t like a foot rub?

Baby games: 1 to 3 months
Older newborns love to look at books with bright, colorful, and contrasting pictures, so now is the perfect time to pull out those board books. Even if your baby can’t understand the story, she will enjoy the pictures and listening to the sound of your voice.

Noisemakers are also fun at this age. Rattles or squeaky plush toys are a big hit. If your infant can’t make the toys rattle on her own yet, gently squeeze them into her palm and shake her arm back and forth. She’ll love it.

Your funny face is one of the best baby toys! Don’t be afraid to get silly: Your baby will get a kick out of watching you stick out your tongue, blow up your cheeks, and make funny noises with your mouth.