Carers should do it by the book
The value of old-fashioned play through spontaneous and imaginative interaction can, at times, seem like an afterthought in a world where toys are as sophisticated as state-of-the-art gadgets, and children are enrolled in a litany of activity classes before they can even walk.
But beyond the excitement and commotion of what classes bring, it is learning through play, using the most basic of tools and time with a constant carer, that are most important for infants.
'The quality of play and the level of human interaction is very important. Infants gain most from one-on-one interaction, sensory stimulation and touch,' explains Yvonne Heavyside, a health visitor who runs The Family Zone, which cares for children from birth to the age of five.
'It is important to give infants lots of time to play, explore, interact and talk because it allows them to learn about themselves and the world around them,' adds Ginny Humpage, senior curriculum co-ordinator at the Woodland Pokfulam Pre-School.
Though early learning activities vary depending on the age of the child, experts agree that reading is invaluable at all ages.
'Reading to your child is one of the best activities, allowing them the time to touch and feel the books while being exposed to the rich repetitive language of the reader, colourful visual pictures and, of course, lots of time to respond verbally and be acknowledged,' Humpage says.
With the saturation of special interest and activity classes for children as young as six months, experts remain divided on how beneficial they are.
'Classes don't have a huge benefit for very young children because they aren't socially interactive,' Heavyside says.
What they can provide is a social outlet for mothers to meet each other, gain ideas and the confidence to engage their children in new activities at home.
'Classes can break up the day for the parent and child. After all, a happy mum generally leads to a happier child,' says Margaret Parker, health visitor, parent and baby group facilitator at the Matilda International Hospital.
Heavyside notes it is important for parents not to smother their children with too many activities. 'It can be harmful if a small child is overwhelmed with too much activity. They can become bored, overtired and won't know how to play alone because they are always surrounded by people,' she says.
Parents are advised to first look at the child's interests, age and temperament, before signing up for something. But beyond what any class can do, it is ultimately the efforts of the parents or carers that matter most.
'Good and loving care with regular play, talking and reading are fundamentals that set in place a good foundation,' Parker says.
