THE BEST GAMES FOR YOUR CHILDREN ARE THE ONES THEY PLAY WITH YOU

A child forms a bond with a parent or main carer, and this bond helps them to learn what they need in life. Don't forget that learning doesn't just mean learning reading, writing and arithmetic, it also means learning how to interact with others and good manners.

Some games can be bought, such as sorting cards, number blocks or snakes and ladders,but games that are made up on the spot can be equally as useful to a child's development. Games out of the window of a car can be fun and educational, and all the more so because the children don't realize it is learning.

Children will learn much more from you than when working on their own. This doesn't mean you have to do things for them, but work alongside them and be on hand to help. They will love showing off what they can do and if they can HELP you, then they will be over the moon.

PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT: Choose games to develop the large muscles, such as football practise and climbing frame assault course games as well as those to develop the small muscles such as sorting buttons or jenga.

MENTAL AGILITY: memory games like Kim's Game will help here, or just remembering the shopping list!("go round the shop and get me these three things")

MATHS: any specialised sorting our counting games help here, but you can also help your child by doing your working-out out loud. You might play Monopoly and get them to count round the board, but also count your money out loud, or say "hhmm, I have 5,000 - I wonder how many houses I can buy? - what do you think?". Give them some small change to play with - they'll love clanging it into a metal tin - and get them to learn the face value of each coin - the value of the money you give them in pennies will be much less than buying a manufactured game.

LANGUAGE: games like Junior Scrabble extend the vocabulary of a child, but the best 'game' is reading. Matching words with flashcards inside or outside the house. Teach them the first letter of their name and get them to find it on signs in the road.

EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE: Get friends round for group games, and let them go to nursery school. When they are at your house, encourage games that involve sharing and taking turns. Dressing up and role playing help them understand other people.

Above all, have fun and be there for them. Learning isn't the most important thing in a child's life.

Learn more about this author, Susan Hibberd.
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