My 11 month old loves to go to her toy box and book shelf and rip stuff out, and smashing them together, kicking them around (not violently! Just messy.) We also sometimes just give her one or two toys to play with at a time, and we read books to her (which she loves).
My question is, should I let her dig through toys and make some messes, or should I structure her playtime ~all the time~ and only let her play with one toy at a time?
We do activities with her, like getting out play dough or playing in water or jello, reading, lots of things... but while I'm busy, I let her choose what to do (like making messes!). Should I be more structured?
2007-01-07 13:55:48 · 6 answers · asked by kiko 3 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Toddler & Preschooler
Thanks for your answers so far.
I agree about having her help clean up, but she can't walk yet and mostly just scoots around. Should I help her "walk" to put toys away, or is it too early?
2007-01-07 14:05:03 · update #1
i think 11 months is still a little early to be worrying about clean up time. I think its great that you do activities with her, but the free play time is just as important. At this age they are still learning so much. It is probably a great adventure for her to go into the toybox by herself and see what she can find. I think the structure can be in the timing. She can learn that after breakfast, comes a story, and then play time..etc.
It sounds like you are doing a great job!
2007-01-07 14:11:29 · answer #1 · answered by redsox fan 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
She is playing, and it is totally normal. It is great to have structured play time every now and then, but she will learn cause and effect and creativity if she is allowed to play with the toys in ways they weren't really intended. Does that make sense?? My son has the best time with tape and scissors and paper (I know your daughter is too young for that, but it is the same concept, exploration and discovery)
The cleaning up will come with time, right now she is learning about the world around her and banging the toys makes noise and she likes it, sound like fun to me too. (I think some people are just too stuffy and uptight)
2007-01-07 22:33:40 · answer #2 · answered by sunny_day_grl 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If you 'structure' her play time, you have ended her play time. It is the lack of structure, the freedom to explore, the curiosity to experiment, the freedom to combine things that constitute play and that will make her brilliant.
Children need freedom as well as structure. For this baby to grow and develop best, she needs mommy's milk on demand, no more than 10 hours of separation a week from mommy, a reciperocal, caring interaction with mommy, and the wonderful stimulation you are providing.
2007-01-07 22:22:42 · answer #3 · answered by cassandra 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
some structure is good. if you don't teach them while they're younger, it'll be impossible when they're older. but teaching is different than total perfect obedience lock-down.
maybe on occassion when you let her take out a lot of toys, you can get into the routine of "now it's time to put our toys away".
good luck. she sounds like a happy baby.
2007-01-07 22:02:08 · answer #4 · answered by Christy 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No. Kids make messes. As long as she's not deliberately destroying stuff, and as long as you take advantage of every "teachable moment" to help her learn to put her things away, some mess-making should not only be allowed, but encouraged.
2007-01-07 22:00:52 · answer #5 · answered by Yarro Pilz 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Making messes is fun when your a kid maybe just have her help you clean it up (within reason I understand she won't be able to do it all but at least a little)
2007-01-07 22:03:13 · answer #6 · answered by luv4horses 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋