Child Health A-Z
Play
Play
Play is a very important part of development for your growing child. Not only is play time entertaining for your child, but it also provides stimulation, increases skills and coordination, provides an outlet for your child's energy, and helps to encourage exploration by your child. Play is also important for the following reasons:
- Play can help to teach your child concepts of shapes, numbers, colors, different sizes, and textures.
- Play can help your child become a social being and encourage your child to be a part of a group and to share.
- Play allows for creativity and fantasy.
- Play helps children discover what they enjoy and what they excel at doing.
- Play provides a means (other than talking) for your child to express his/her fears, needs and wants.
Listed in the directory below you will find some additional information regarding the different types of play, for which we have provided a brief overview.
Last Update
February 3, 2008-
Child Health A-Z
- Infant Play
- Preschool Play
- Stages of Play
- Toddler Play
- The Growing Child: 10 to 12 Months
- The Growing Child: 1 to 3 Months
- The Growing Child: 4 to 6 Months
- The Growing Child: 7 to 9 Months
- Age-Appropriate Hearing Milestones
- Age-Appropriate Speech and Language Milestones
- Acne
- Attention-Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
- Adolescent (13 to 18 Years)
- Adolescent Nutrition
- The Growing Child: Adolescent (13 to 18 Years)
- Anatomy of the Female Pelvic Area
- Amenorrhea
- Anorexia Nervosa
- Autistic Disorder
- Biting
- Nursing Bottle Caries
- Orthodontics / Braces
- Breast Conditions
- Breast Self-Examination
- Anatomy of the Breasts
- Breast Health
- Brushing and Toothpaste
- Bulimia Nervosa
- Common Dental Problems and Concerns
- Varicella (Chickenpox)
- Constipation
- Seborrheic Dermatitis (Cradle Cap)
- Crying
- Tooth Decay (Caries or Cavities)
- Dental Health
- Dental Health Overview
- Dental Procedures
- Diarrhea
- Diapers / Diaper Rash
- Discipline
- Diphtheria, Tetanus, and Pertussis (DTaP)
- Dysmenorrhea
- Dysthymia
- Eating Disorders
- Encopresis (Holding Bowel Movements)
- Urinary Incontinence (Enuresis)
- Exercise
- Eye Examinations and Visual Screening
- Feeding Guide for the First Year
- Fever in a Newborn
- Female Growth and Development
- Fillings
- Flossing
- Fluoride
- General Principles of Discipline
- Gastrointestinal Problems
- The Growing Child
- Gynecological Health
- Gynecological Infections
- Recognizing Urologic or Gynecologic Problems
- Hepatitis B (HBV)
- Healthy Diets Overview
- Hearing Loss
- Hearing Loss in Babies
- Types of Hearing Tests
- Haemophilus Influenzae Type b (Hib)
- Healthy Lifestyles
- Health Maintenance
- Health Promotion and Common Problems
- Hearing, Speech, and Language
- Immunizations
- Overview of Immunizations
- Growth and Development
- Infant
- Infant Nutrition
- Infant Sleep
- Kyphosis
- Learning Disorders
- Lying and Stealing
- Major Depression
- Overview of the Male Anatomy
- Care of the Uncircumcised Penis
- Adolescent Male: Physical Examination
- Bipolar Disorder / Manic Depression
- Measuring a Baby's Temperature
- Menstrual Cycle: An Overview
- Male Growth and Development
- Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR)
- Menstrual Disorders
- Mood Disorders
- Mouthguards
- Mastalgia (Breast Pain)
- The Growing Child: Newborn
- Normal Breast Development
- Nightmares and Night Terrors
- Nutrition
- Weight Management
- The Growing Child: 1-Year-Olds
- Online Resources - Growth and Development
- Overview of Mood Disorders
- Puberty: Adolescent Female
- Puberty: Adolescent Male
- Pap Test
- Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS)
- Pneumococcus
- Polio (IPV)
- Preschool (4 to 5 Years)
- The Growing Child: Preschool (4 to 5 Years)
- Preschooler Nutrition
- Prevention of Oral Problems
- Substance Abuse / Chemical Dependence
- Safer Sex Guidelines
- The Growing Child: School-Age (6 to 12 Years)
- School-Age (6 to 12 Years)
- School-Aged Child Nutrition
- Scoliosis
- Sealants
- Separation Anxiety
- Sleep
- Healthy Sleep Habits
- Signs of Problems in Speech, Language, Hearing Development
- School Refusal
- Sexually Transmitted Diseases
- Stuttering
- Toddler Nutrition
- Anatomy and Development of the Mouth and Teeth
- Teething
- Television and Children
- Temper Tantrums
- The Growing Child: 3-Year-Olds
- Failure to Thrive
- Thumb Sucking
- Time-Out
- Toilet-Training
- Toddler
- The Growing Child: 2-Year-Olds
- Vaginitis
- Age-Appropriate Vision Milestones
- Vision
- Types of Visual Screening Tests
- Problems With Vision
- Vulvitis
- Wisdom Teeth Extraction
- Bathing and Skin Care
- Normal Newborn Behaviors and Activities
- Newborn - Reflexes
- Newborn - Senses
- Newborn - Sleep Patterns
- Breastfeeding Your Baby
- Effective Breastfeeding
- How Milk Is Made
- Breast Milk is The Best Milk
- Getting Started
- Effective Sucking
- Bottle-Feeding
- Baby's Care After a Cesarean Delivery
- When a Baby Has Difficulty After Birth
- Baby's Care in the Delivery Room
- Baby's Care After Birth
- Baby's Care After a Vaginal Delivery
- Circumcision
- Umbilical Cord Care
- Choosing a Pediatrician
- Newborn - Crying
- Breastfeeding Difficulties - Baby
- Ineffective Latch-on or Sucking
- Mismanaged Breastfeeding
- Over-Active Let-Down
- Slow or Poor Infant Weight Gain
- Diapers / Diaper Rash
- Insufficient or Delayed Milk Production
- Flat or Inverted Nipples
- Breastfeeding Difficulties - Mother
- Low Milk Production
- Mastitis
- Plugged Milk Ducts
- Sore Nipples
- Fever in A Newborn
- Behavior Changes
- When To Call Your Physician
- Gastrointestinal Problems
- Breathing Problems
- Skin Color Changes
- Measuring a Baby's Temperature
- Physical Examination
- Gestational Assessment
- Newborn Health Assessment
- Measurements
- Warning Signs
- Childhood Immunizations
- Normal Newborn
- Getting to Know Your New Baby
- Maternal Nutrition and Breastfeeding
- Breast Milk Collection and Storage
- Taking Care of Your Breast Pump and Collection Kit
- Storing Your Breast Milk
- Thawing Breast Milk
- Using a Breast Pump
- Overview of Birth Defects
- Hypoglycemia
- Jaundice
- Birth Injuries
- Newborn Complications
- Transient Tachypnea of the Newborn
- Thrush
- Newborn Appearance
- Newborn Care
- The New Mother - Taking Care of Yourself After Birth
- Infant Feeding Guide
- Online Resources - Normal Newborn
- Preparing the Family
- Preparing For Your New Baby
- Eye Prophylaxis / Vitamin K Injection
- Hearing Screening Tests
- Common Procedures
- Newborn Immunizations
- Newborn Screening Tests
- Getting Ready at Home
- Introducing a Bottle
- Childcare
- Breast Milk Expression - Helpful Equipment
- Breastfeeding and Returning To Work
- At Work
- Maternity Leave
- Breast Milk Expression
- Getting Ready
- Your Workplace
- Glossary
- Glossary
