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The Best Play Activities to Develop Your Child’s Natural Ability to Learn

  • Writer: Genesis Childcare 1989 - Tampines
    Genesis Childcare 1989 - Tampines
  • Dec 8, 2022
  • 7 min read

Updated: Nov 2

Genesis Childcare 1989 Tampines Childcare Centre and Infant Care Preschool – Nurturing Young Minds Since 1989

A child holding a fruit.


Every child is born with an incredible ability to learn. From their earliest months, little ones absorb the world around them through every sound, touch, and experience. But did you know that the most powerful way to unlock your child’s inborn capacity for learning is through play?


At Genesis Childcare 1989, we believe that play is not just recreation—it’s education in its purest form. Through guided, purposeful play, your child builds essential cognitive, social, and emotional skills that lay the foundation for lifelong learning.


As a trusted Tampines childcare and preschool provider with decades of experience, Genesis has seen firsthand how everyday play can spark creativity, curiosity, and confidence. Here, we share some of the best play-based activities that parents can try at home to support children aged 1 to 3 years old, alongside how our Tampines infant care and Tampines nursery programs integrate these same approaches.



Building the Foundation: How to Support Your Child’s Play and Learning


Before diving into specific activities, it’s important to understand how you, as a parent, can best support your child’s natural learning journey.


  1. Trust your child’s abilities. Children are far more capable than we often imagine. Trust that your child can explore, make small mistakes, and learn from them. This builds self-confidence and resilience—two traits we actively nurture at Genesis Childcare 1989 Tampines Preschool.

  2. Observe and understand your child’s interests. Every child learns differently. Some are drawn to colors and patterns, others to sounds or motion. At Genesis Childcare 1989, our educators carefully observe each child’s readiness and curiosity, tailoring experiences to meet their developmental stage.

  3. Provide the right challenges. Offer activities that are neither too easy nor too hard. For example, when your child masters a simple puzzle, gently increase the difficulty to keep them motivated. This approach mirrors our curriculum design at Genesis Childcare 1989 Tampines Nursery, where children learn progressively through scaffolded play experiences.

  4. Encourage exploration and curiosity.Give your child space to ask questions, test ideas, and try new things. When you show enthusiasm for their discoveries, they feel inspired to learn more.



1. Water Play: Learning Through Splash and Discovery


Water play is one of the simplest yet most enriching sensory experiences for young children. It can be done indoors during bath time or outdoors with a tub of water.


Activity Ideas


  • Introduce colors: Add a few drops of food coloring to the water and place matching-colored objects inside. For example, float red cups in red water or blue toys in blue water. This helps your child learn to identify and differentiate colors while enjoying the tactile experience.

  • Play during bath time: Turn bath time into a fun learning session! Offer your child items like measuring cups, plastic bottles, or sponges to squeeze and pour. You can also teach them basic measurement words such as “full,” “empty,” or “half.”


Benefits of Water Play


Water play stimulates sensory exploration, coordination, and scientific curiosity. At Genesis Tampines Infant Care, water-based sensory play is a regular part of our curriculum. It enhances fine motor control, helps children understand cause and effect, and introduces early math and science concepts—all through joyful, hands-on experiences.



2. Food Play: A Delicious Way to Learn


Food play combines sensory exploration with real-life skills. Allowing your child to touch, smell, and even help prepare food builds familiarity and confidence around eating while developing critical motor and language skills.


Activity Ideas


  • Explore tastes and textures: Introduce your child to foods with different tastes—sweet fruits, tangy oranges, salty crackers, or bitter greens. Let them describe how each one feels and tastes.

  • Get involved in cooking:Invite your child to stir eggs, pour flour, or help pick vegetables during grocery shopping. Simple kitchen activities create a sense of accomplishment and connection.


Benefits of Food Play


At Genesis Childcare 1989, we often integrate cooking-themed activities into our Tampines preschool curriculum because they engage multiple senses and promote holistic learning. Food play strengthens hand–eye coordination, vocabulary, and problem-solving skills. It also encourages healthy eating habits from a young age.



3. Light Play: Discovering Shadows and Imagination


Light play helps children explore cause and effect while stimulating imagination. It can be as simple as noticing shadows under the sunlight or using flashlights in a dim room.


Activity Ideas


  • Shadow exploration: Take your child outdoors and let them walk in the sunlight. Ask them to observe how their shadow moves when they move. Some children might find it amusing, while others may feel a bit unsure. Reassure them that shadows are just part of the fun!

  • Indoor light experiments:Use a flashlight and everyday objects to create shadows on the wall. Let your child guess which object made each shadow shape.


Benefits of Light Play


Light and shadow exploration develops observation, imagination, and motor skills. In our Tampines nursery classrooms, teachers use similar methods—like light tables and projection play—to introduce early science and art concepts. These playful experiments boost creativity while strengthening logical thinking.



4. Puzzle Play: Developing Focus and Problem-Solving Skills


Puzzles are an excellent tool for building your child’s concentration and fine motor coordination.


Activity Ideas


  • Personalized puzzles: Create a puzzle from a family photo. Start with just two pieces, then gradually increase the number as your child gains confidence.

  • Encourage persistence:Celebrate small successes to motivate your child to keep trying. A child’s sense of accomplishment when completing a puzzle reinforces perseverance and focus.


Benefits of Puzzle Play


At Genesis Childcare 1989 Tampines Child Care Centre, puzzle play is part of our cognitive development program. It strengthens eye–hand coordination, spatial awareness, and logical reasoning. Children also learn patience and persistence—skills that will benefit them as they progress through school and life.



Why Repetition Matters


Children learn best through repetition. When you expose your child repeatedly to these enriching activities, their understanding deepens over time. What may seem like simple play actually lays the groundwork for academic readiness, emotional regulation, and critical thinking.


At Genesis Childcare 1989, we see this philosophy come alive every day. Through consistent exposure to hands-on learning, our young learners at the Tampines preschool and infant care center build a strong foundation for future success.



The Genesis Childcare 1989 Difference


Since 1989, Genesis Childcare 1989 has been a trusted name in early childhood education. Our mission is to provide a warm, nurturing, and stimulating environment where children thrive academically and emotionally.


Here’s what sets Genesis Childcare 1989 Tampines Child Care and Infant Care apart:


  • Experienced educators: Our teachers are passionate professionals who understand the developmental milestones of each age group.

  • Play-based curriculum: We balance structured learning with free exploration, ensuring that every child enjoys learning.

  • Safe, family-like environment: Our centres foster a sense of security and belonging that helps children flourish.

  • Strong parent partnerships: We believe parents are a child’s first teachers, and we work hand-in-hand to create consistent learning experiences both at home and in school.


Whether your little one is just beginning their journey at our Tampines infant care or preparing for preschool readiness at our Tampines nursery, Genesis provides a caring space where curiosity is celebrated and every milestone is cherished.



Conclusion: Encouraging Growth Through the Best Play Activities


At Genesis Childcare 1989, we believe that play is the heart of early learning. Through the best play activities—from sensory play and creative arts to outdoor exploration and imaginative games—children develop essential cognitive, social, and emotional skills.


Our Tampines infant care, Tampines child care, and Tampines preschool programs are thoughtfully designed to nurture every child’s curiosity, confidence, and love for learning through purposeful play. Because at Genesis Childcare 1989, play isn’t just fun—it’s how children grow, connect, and thrive every day.



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Genesis Tampines Childcare 1989 is one of the best preschool and childcare in Tampines. Our Preschool Tampines have over 30 years of experience in nurturing thousands of infants, toddlers and preschoolers. At our Tampines Childcare, we advocate that every child is unique and precious who needs to be loved and cherished.


As a leading early childhood center in Singapore since 1989, we are committed to nurturing our early learners holistically through various learning areas and positive learning dispositions. We place a strong emphasis on the way our teachers facilitate and interact with the children.

 

Our Childcare Tampines believe that every child is unique and precious who needs to be loved and cherished. Hence, our holistic curriculum aims to create meaningful learning experiences for each and every one of them!

 

Our Playgroup Tampines provides parents with the confidence that their children are in the good hands of our trained and caring teachers.


Our professional team of preschool teachers has a good understanding of child development and learning principles. We apply them efficiently and set the stage to create a meaningful learning experience that supports your child's discovery.


We consistently create a positive and cozy environment that will give your child a sense of security which builds their self-confidence to explore the world around them.


If you are looking for a good Tampines infant care or Tampines preschool or Tampines childcare near Tampines Central, do consider Nurture Infant House or Genesis Childcare 1989.


Located alongside our childcare in Tampines is our Nurture Infant House. If you are looking for Tampines infant care or infant care in Tampines, do visit Nurture Infant House. It is for infants aged 2 months to 18 months old. You can learn more about our infant care Tampines here.


Lastly, would you like to visit our Genesis Childcare 1989 to find out more about our environment and setup as well as understand our operations by talking to our teachers and supervisor?

 


Book a school tour now! Click here to read our Google reviews too!

                                                                                             


Genesis Childcare 1989 (Playgroup to Kindergarten 2)

Blk 433 Tampines Street 43 #01-63/65 S(520433)



Nurture Infant House (2 to 18 months Infants)

Blk 433 Tampines Street 43 #01-61 S(520433)



Opening hours: Monday to Friday (7am to 7pm) & Saturday (7am to 2pm)


Public Bus services: 8 / 21 / 28 / 29 / 293


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