Sprout Station
For children 0-4
Pretend Play
Pretend play is an important part of development where children use their knowledge of everyday life to act it out themselves and better understand the world. While in the Sprout Station, children often have the opportunity to collaborate with others, strengthening communication and empathy. Kids love to mimic important things that they see adults doing, so providing pretend play opportunities like the Vet, Doctor, Grocery Store, and Diner allow them to put their gained knowledge and skills into practice.
Encouraging pretend play is important for caregivers. Kids know what they are doing when they play, just follow their lead! Engage in play with them to better understand their interests. Look around at what items are available for play. How could you use them in an unconventional way? Don’t be afraid to get creative, and remember: all kinds of play are important for a child’s development, and having fun is more than enough.
Sensory Play
Sensory play focuses on a child’s five senses (touch, smell, taste, sight, hearing). This type of play builds nerve connections in the brain, helping to create a strong learner. Using the senses to investigate their surroundings supports language development, problem solving, and motor and social skills. Reading to toddlers and babies opens their imagination and works to develop their language and vocabulary. To learn more about the benefits of reading, visit the Leap into Literature page.
As your child explores on their own, describe the objects and their actions out loud. Engage with the materials yourself to share different perspectives.
Large Motor
Physical development is strengthened through climbing, running, and jumping. This strengthens children’s muscles, maintains balance, and refining coordination. Large motor play is important for body and spatial awareness, boosting confidence, and providing an outlet for energy and stress. Large motor play is important for life-long physical health, risk management, self esteem, and facilitating school readiness.
Give them space! Make sure your children have plenty of room to move around and explore. Let them lead the way with their play. Run, jump, dance, climb, take risks outside and on playgrounds. The Sprout Station offers great outlets for kids and babies to take risks in a safe and controlled environment.
