Carmen Knight, M.A.T. Early Childhood and Special Education

As children return to school, we need to make sure that we are teaching them about the importance of community helpers. It is imperative that children know who they can turn to in times of need. A great way to teach how valuable teachers, nurses, police officers, and firefighters are in our lives is through interactive play. This amazing set I found at SmileMakers helps you teach your young patients how important these people are to them and the community they live in.

The 36 piece Community and Roadway Essentials playset will help therapists and early interventionists develop interactive play skills a child needs. The pieces of the playset fit nicely into a container that can be flipped over and used as a staging area for play. Have your patient identify the bus, then match the correct 'helper'. As the patient begins to play, talk about what this person does, where they are driving their vehicle, who would be riding with them, etc. There are several scenarios that can be played out.

Goals that can be reached through interactive play:

Developing strong relationship:

Interactive play helps a child learn the importance of developing and maintaining strong relationships with their family and peers. Using interactive play with your patient during a session enhances communication skills, trust, and relationship building. While you pretend and learn about the community helpers, you will share a special time of fun and laughter. Time dedicated to a child will always be time well spent.

Importance of Communication:

Interactive play allows a child to gain a greater understanding of the importance of communication. While playing, you are demonstrating things that the community helpers would say to each other. This shows the child how important it is to use words to communicate wants and needs. This also teaches a child very important life lessons such as going to a police officer if lost in a store or frightened by a stranger.

Developing A Strong Imagination:

Therapists and Early Interventionists use interactive play as a tool to develop a strong imagination in children. Sparking a child's imagination with play helps with cognitive skills and allows a child to work on creativity. The child can emulate the sounds of others talking once they have seen this concept displayed. They can role play and come up with their own scenario including reactions and discussions that may occur in that scenario. It also gives the child the courage to play and imagine with other children.

Explore SmileMakers site to find more interactive play toys that can help with children's developmental goals.