Guest blog from the founder of The EmpowerMum Method
The Power of Play: How Simple Moments Shape Your Baby’s Brain
When you picture “play,” what comes to mind? Colourful toys, baby classes, or messy crafts? For many parents, play feels like something we do for our children, an activity to tick off the list. But as Dr. Maria Montessori so beautifully said, “Play is the work of the child.” It’s how babies make sense of their world, connect with us, and build the foundations for every skill that follows.
As an occupational therapist and mum, I’ve seen first hand how play isn’t just fun, it’s vital. It’s the main occupation of childhood, and the most powerful tool we have to support development, connection, and emotional wellbeing.
From conception to a child’s second birthday, their brain is developing faster than it ever will again. These early years are a time of incredible growth, billions of new connections are forming in the brain in response to every cuddle, sound, and sensory experience.
Through play, babies explore cause and effect (“what happens when I shake this?”), practice movement (“how do I reach that toy?”), and learn about relationships (“when I smile, you smile back”). Every wiggle, reach, roll, and giggle strengthens both their body and their brain.
Movement and sensory experiences aren’t extras, they’re essential. When your baby lies on the floor, feels different textures, or moves their arms and legs freely, they’re building the pathways that support attention, emotions, and coordination later on.
As Dr. Jacqueline Harding says, “Play is the most efficient way to make educational progress in the early years... the young child’s body and brain is literally designed to be playful.”
In today’s busy world, it’s easy to think babies need classes, flashcards, or expensive toys to learn. But the truth is, real development happens in the simple, everyday moments.
Before your baby stands, they spend hours strengthening their tummy during tummy time. Before they talk, they babble and play with sounds. Before they share, they watch you and learn how people connect.
So if your baby’s playtime looks like rolling on a blanket or banging two blocks together, that’s perfect. They’re learning, growing, and thriving.
When we see play as “just fun,” we risk missing how deeply purposeful it is. Through play, babies learn problem-solving, creativity, fine and gross motor skills, and even the early building blocks of empathy. Play teaches persistence (“I’ll try again”), confidence (“I can do this”), and connection (“We’re in this together”).
Development isn’t about hitting milestones faster, it’s about giving children the space and safety to grow into them. Progress is more important than perfection.
Sadly, children today have less freedom to play than previous generations. Research from Play England (2025) shows that only 27% of under-18s play in the street, compared to 81% of those aged 55–64 when they were young. This drop in free play has been linked to rising rates of anxiety and lower emotional wellbeing in children (Gray et al, 2023).
We don’t need more pressure. We need to bring play back home, simple, joyful, everyday play that builds confidence for both parent and child.
Play Made Simple: Where to Start
The good news? Supporting your baby’s development doesn’t need to be complicated. Here are a few gentle ways to bring play into your daily rhythm:
Find small pockets of time. Ten minutes on the floor is enough. Babies thrive on connection, not perfection.
Repeat, repeat, repeat. The brain loves repetition, it’s how new skills stick.
Embrace floor play. Get down with your baby. Tummy time from day one builds strength in their shoulders, tummy, and hips.
Notice progress. Keep a little diary or notes on your phone, when you look back, you’ll see just how much your baby has grown.
Pop your phone away. Our phones are addictive, but putting yours on flight mode or in another room while you immerse yourself in play is so powerful.
Play is more than an activity, it’s how your baby learns that they are safe, seen, and loved. When you join them in play, with eye contact, laughter, and curiosity, you’re building their brain, strengthening your bond, and helping them grow into a confident, resilient little human.
Next time you find yourself on the floor, stacking cups or blowing bubbles, know this: you are doing the most important work of all and laying the foundations for your little one’s future.
Helen Buteux is an experienced occupational therapist with over a decade of expertise in early development, sensory foundations, and maternal wellbeing. Passionate about evidence-informed practice, she supports infants and toddlers through their most crucial stages of growth. Helen is the founder of The EmpowerMum Method, a transformative programme designed to help new and expecting mums feel confident, calm, and connected in early motherhood by nurturing both their own journey and their baby’s development.
www.helenbuteux.com
@becoming_a_mummy
References
Brown, S. and Vaughan, C. (2009). Play: How It Shapes the Brain, Opens the Imagination, and Invigorates the Soul. New York: Avery.
Gray, P., Lancy, D.F. and Bjorklund, D.F., 2023. Decline in independent activity as a cause of decline in children's mental well-being: Summary of the evidence. Journal of Pediatrics, 260, p.113352. doi:10.1016/j.jpeds.2023.02.004.
Harding, J. (2023). The Brain That Loves to Play: A Visual Guide to Child Development, Play, and Brain Growth. 1st ed. Abingdon: Routledge.
Play England (2025). It All Starts with Play! – Play England’s 10-Year Strategy, 2025–2035. Play England. Available at: https://www.playengland.org.uk/strategy [Accessed 16 October 2025].