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We know a lot of families are at home right now, and we hope you are all safe and well. The early literacy team at NYPL hopes you and your little ones have fun with these play recipes from our new Early Education series: A Day of Play!

Why play? Research shows that play is a fundamental part of a child’s life.  At NYPL, our early literacy team and our expert children’s librarians know firsthand how transformative play can be in a child’s life. Children learn through play.

The Day of Play “recipes” use simple household ingredients that you may have on hand and are quick and simple to make. Each recipe consists of suggested activities and ways to play, as well as talking points to extend the conversation and get your little one to make predictions, experiment, and enhance their vocabulary while they learn new concepts through play. 

Some of these recipes are geared towards babies and young children, but we encourage older siblings to join in on the fun! These recipes are adaptable, so feel free to use what you have on hand--just remember to supervise little ones with small objects and play safely.

We hope your family enjoys these creative recipes for learning and playing together! And remember, make sure to always supervise when playing! Any small item could be a choking hazard so remember to never let a small child play unattended with any of these items.

• Discovery Bottles
• Homemade Blocks
• Music Shakers
• No Mess Finger Painting
• Peek-a-Boo Boxes
• Pom Pom Drop
• Sensory Bin
• Sticky Collage

For even more ideas for keeping little ones engaged at home, NYPL Children's Librarian Jenny Rosenoff (home with her toddler daughter) has tips you can try yourself. Read her post: Stuck at Home with a Children's Librarian.