10 everyday activities to do with your child that support their development

Whether it's peek-a-boo with your baby, singing their favourite nursery rhymes or getting your preschooler involved in preparing food, everyday moments offer plenty of opportunities to connect, learn and grow.

According to Best Start in Life, around 90% of brain growth happens before the age of five. These early interactions help children feel secure, build confidence and develop communication and social skills.

The best part? You're already doing more to support your child's development than you know. Everyday activities and routines offer valuable opportunities for learning, often without you even realising it. Here are some simple ways to make the most of these moments, with a little extra fun along the way.

Why are everyday activities important for your child's development?

Children learn by exploring the world and interacting with people around them. Simply responding to your child’s sounds, talking together and sharing books can support early communication and connection.

What this looks like depends on your child's age and interests. Follow their lead and adapt activities to their needs and abilities:

• For babies: Copy their gurgles, smile back or pause for a response. These exchanges introduce back-and-forth conversation.

• For toddlers: Name things they point at or involve them in simple tasks to encourage curiosity and new words.

• For preschoolers: Make up stories or let them explain how their imaginary café works (even if the menu consists entirely of plastic toast).

How can you turn everyday moments together into learning opportunities?

The Best Start in Life early learning and development guidance offers plenty of age-appropriate ideas. We've picked 10 that fit into family life, alongside tried-and-tested tips from Mumsnet parents.

1. Make mealtimes a chance to chat

From breakfast to dinner, sitting down to eat together gives you a chance to talk about what's on the plate, introduce new words and encourage your child to communicate, whether that's through smiles and gestures or full-blown conversations.

• With babies: Name foods and describe what you're doing. Phrases and questions like "Here's your banana" or “that tastes sweet, doesn’t it?” help them connect words with experiences.

• With toddlers and preschoolers: Talk about tastes and textures, offer a choice between two foods or count pieces of fruit together.

These exchanges encourage listening and self-expression. But there's no need to turn dinner into a quiz – simply following your child's lead and enjoying the conversation together can help build their confidence and communication skills.

2. Turn everyday journeys into a game

Even a trip to the supermarket or a walk to the childminders can be an adventure when you're seeing the world through your child's eyes.

• With babies: Point out interesting sights and sounds. "Look, a dog! Woof woof!" Give them time to respond with a sound or smile.

• With older children: Play I Spy, spot different colours, count cars or animals, or ask what they can hear.

Following your child's curiosity helps develop observation and communication skills. Just be prepared for the journey home to take longer when every puddle needs to be jumped in!

3. Read together daily

Sharing books isn't about reading every word. Looking at pictures and talking about what you see counts too.

• With babies: Try picture or fabric books. Name objects and respond when your baby reaches or babbles.

• With toddlers and preschoolers: Use funny voices, discuss illustrations or ask how they think a character may be feeling, or what might happen next.

As Mumsnetter Dwonka puts it: "Reading should lead to conversation and curiosity, not just reading the words on the page […] Chatting, listening, observing, [taking an] interest in their hobbies - that's how kids learn."

4. Sing songs and nursery rhymes

You don't need a great singing voice to entertain your child. Fortunately, babies are unlikely to judge your questionable rendition of The Wheels on the Bus.

• With babies: Use facial expressions and gentle actions, pausing to see whether they respond.

• With toddlers: Encourage them to copy actions or join in with familiar words.

• With preschoolers: Invent verses to Old MacDonald Had a Farm or make up silly lyrics.

Singing helps babies tune in to the rhythm of language. For toddlers and preschoolers, joining in with familiar songs and rhymes can help build vocabulary and listening skills, and repetition helps with memory and recognition.

5. Get them involved in everyday chores

Household chores might not be your idea of fun, but many young children love getting involved in whatever you're doing. Even the most ordinary jobs can feel like an exciting challenge when they're invited to help.

• With babies: Describe what you're doing while they watch from a safe place, such as a playmat or highchair. Talk them through everyday tasks like sorting the laundry, putting shopping away or preparing dinner, naming objects, colours and actions as you go.

• With toddlers: Give them simple jobs, such as putting toys away, matching socks, carrying soft, lightweight items, wiping down surfaces with a damp cloth or sweeping the floor with a mini broom.

• With preschoolers: Encourage them to take on slightly more responsibility, such as stirring ingredients or preparing a snack, setting the table, sorting laundry into colours, watering plants, matching clean cups or organising their belongings.

Mumsnetter sheenaWild found that everyday jobs were a big hit with her children: "[…] Between 18 months and 2 years, mine loved helping: emptying the dishwasher with you, as long as you’re quick with the breakables; putting away cutlery with the toddler tower; setting the table; emptying/loading the washing/tumble dryer […]"

Getting involved can help children develop coordination, problem-solving skills and independence. Just be sure to keep tasks safe and supervised.

6. Let their imagination take over

Who needs expensive toys when everyday household objects can provide so much entertainment? From exploring unfamiliar textures to inventing imaginary worlds, there's plenty of fun to be had with things you already have at home. Just be sure to choose objects carefully, avoiding anything that is sharp, could break, come apart or pose a choking risk.

• With babies: Offer safe, age-appropriate objects to hold, touch and explore together. Mumsnetter skkyelark says: "As they become more able to hold things, I handed them any random safe item to explore, especially in the kitchen – a wooden spoon, rubber spatula, plastic bottle (my daughter loved that, it was a really cheap thin one and made lovely crinkly noises when she squeezed it a bit), a glove, a fluffy hat, etc."

• With toddlers: Turn familiar objects into props for pretend play, whether that's hosting a tea party or cooking up an imaginary feast.

• With preschoolers: A cardboard box can become a rocket, a shop or a home for teddy bears. Play along and encourage them to invent their own stories and see where their imagination takes them.

7. Make a splash at bath time

If your child enjoys water, bath time offers another chance to explore together.

• With babies: Talk or sing as you wash them, naming body parts and responding to their expressions.

• With toddlers: Offer bath-safe cups to fill and empty, introducing words like "full," "empty" and "pour."

• With preschoolers: Explore which toys float or sink and ask what they notice.

Mumsnetter Somehowgirl has a simple suggestion: "If I was ever at a loss for something to do, I stuck [my son] in the bath with odds and ends from the kitchen cupboard to play with like various pots and jugs and spoons […]"

Remember: Never leave babies or young children unattended in the bath, even for a moment. 

8. Make getting dressed a game

Getting dressed can feel like an Olympic event, especially when your child insists on wearing wellies with their pyjamas. But whether you're changing your baby's sleepsuit or encouraging your preschooler to get dressed independently, it's a great opportunity to practise new skills and make routines more playful.

• With babies: Name clothes and body parts as you dress them, using simple phrases like "One arm in, two arms in!" You could even sing a little song as you go.

• With toddlers: Offer a choice between two suitable outfits, ask them to find their shoes or encourage them to help pull on their socks.

• With preschoolers: Let them have a go at buttons, zips, velcro shoes or getting dressed independently, stepping in when they need a hand.

As well as building vocabulary and coordination, these small tasks can help your child feel more confident doing things for themselves.

9. Explore the outdoors together

You don't need to venture far to find something interesting to explore. Whether it's a trip to the park, a wander around your local neighbourhood or playing in the garden, being outdoors gives your child the chance to experience different sights, sounds and textures while enjoying some fresh air.

• With babies: Point out rustling leaves, dogs barking or clouds moving across the sky. Give them time to take in their surroundings and respond to whatever interests them.

• With toddlers: Collect fallen leaves, splash in puddles or stop to investigate an interesting-looking stick. Encourage them to explore different textures and describe what they notice.

• With preschoolers: Look for insects, compare the shapes and colours of leaves or talk about how the weather changes with the seasons.

Outdoor play can support children's wellbeing too. A recent UK study found that more adventurous play was associated with better mental health in children aged two to four. So, whether they're avoiding the cracks in the path or exploring the local park, there are plenty of reasons to encourage outdoor play.

10. Play simple games and build together

Simple games can help children learn how to take turns, work together and communicate, even before they're old enough to understand the rules. As children grow, playing alongside them gives you a chance to share ideas, solve problems and enjoy creating something together.

• With babies: Copy your baby's sounds and give them time to respond. It's an early way to practise the back-and-forth of conversation. You can also try peekaboo.

• With toddlers: Roll a ball back and forth or take turns adding pieces to a simple puzzle.

• With preschoolers: Try matching games, play a simple board game or work together to complete a jigsaw.

Mumsnetter OnePinkWriter found that building with LEGO was something they could both enjoy: "I played LEGO with my little one (I'd loved it as a child too). We'd happily build random stuff alongside each other, rather than have to actually play imaginative things together. I praised their efforts and they learnt by seeing mine. Sometimes we built a big thing together, a haunted house was a favourite one…"

About Best Start in Life

The Best Start in Life website brings together information and support for every stage of your child's early years and beyond. From pregnancy and feeding to childcare and early years education, get advice and support at BestStartinLife.gov.uk.

You can also find information about government childcare support schemes, use the Childcare Checker, explore breakfast clubs and wraparound childcare, and discover the key skills your child needs before starting Reception.