Early development, 10 months–3 years
Support development through play (10 months–3 years) — Čuvarak | Anastasija Martinović
Practical at-home activities to support language, motor, cognitive and social-emotional skills for babies and toddlers. Simple, safe ideas you can use in daily routines.
An educational response by Anastasija Martinović
Anastasija Martinović
Anastasija Martinović: As an educator at Čuvarak I focus on small, everyday ways parents can support learning through play. These suggestions are educational, not medical, and are meant to fit into regular care and routines.
Follow your child's lead and join their play; notice what they reach for and what makes them smile. Imitation, hiding a toy under a cup, stacking or nesting rings, pushing and pulling, inserting objects into containers, and simple pretend actions invite exploration and communication. Take turns, copy their sounds or gestures, then gently add one small new action or word. Short, frequent play moments throughout the day support attention and learning more than a single long 'lesson'.
Use everyday routines for language: narrate what you do during dressing, feeding, and walks, sing short songs, and point to pictures as you name them. Read interactively—pause after a page or phrase and wait 3–5 seconds so your child has a chance to respond with a look, gesture, or sound. Offer safe items with different textures, sizes and weights for handling, and encourage grasping, passing and banging to build fine and gross motor skills.
Create a movement-friendly, supervised space with cushions for climbing, low boxes to step on, and room to carry lightweight objects; provide large crayons or chunky markers for scribbling. Remove small parts, batteries, magnets, loose cords and toxic materials and keep water and higher surfaces closely supervised. Repeat favourite games often and rotate a few simple objects to sustain interest. Čuvarak offers educational support to families but is not a substitute for a professional evaluation if you have concerns.
Anastasija suggests
Anastasija Martinović
- 1Imitation and turn-taking: Get down to the child's level, copy their sounds and gestures, then add one small new action (a clap, a new syllable or a simple word) to encourage back-and-forth interaction.
- 2Hiding and stacking games: Use cups or boxes to hide a small toy for the child to find, and offer stacking or nesting sets for placing and taking apart to practise problem-solving and fine motor control.
- 3Talk during routines: Narrate dressing, feeding and bath time, naming objects and actions; pause 3–5 seconds after speaking to allow the child a chance to respond.
- 4Safe exploration and movement: Set up a supervised play area with varied textures (cloths, wooden spoons, safe containers), large crayons and cushions for supported climbing; remove choking hazards and other small dangerous items.