Play helps our children learn new things while developing their creative thinking, building social skills, and learning about their talents and interests. Since life is so busy, these “Do’s” and “Don’ts” will indeed help your family make the most of playtime!
Special playtime lets you focus on your kid’s good behaviors and build a robust and nurturing relationship. You can use the time to actively listen and practice praising, imitating, and describing your kid’s behavior. The more you practice the skills, the easier it is to use them in everyday situations.
The Do’s Of Playtime
1. Do Let Your Child Direct Their Play. As long as it is safe. When your child leads a play, they practice decision-making and learn how to interact with others. Let them decide if they want to play pretend in an imaginary castle, open an ice cream shop using play dough, or play catch in the backyard. This way, you spend time doing an activity you know they love!
2. Do Play With Your Child In Different Ways. Play makes you believe in using your imagination, constructive play to practice building things, physical play to use gross motor movements, and messy play for sensory experiences. Exploring different ways to play helps your child develop and gain skills they will use outside of play.
3. Do Be Silly! Kids like to know that adults can have fun with them. Break out your best dance moves, become a character in their imaginative story, or use funny voices during playtime. This makes play more spontaneous, and your kids will also love seeing your goofy side!
4. Do Encourage Playing With Other Children. Play is often a social activity, and sharing the experience with other children helps encourage social-emotional growth and development.
5. Do Ask Your Child Questions. What kinds of things do they like? What are they planning on doing next? Questions like these can help you learn about their interests and favorite activities. Back-and-forth conversations also build social skills that are important for all stages of life.
The Don’ts Of Playtime
1. Do not Overly Direct Your Child’s Play. Kids need to participate in play with their ideas and contributions. It is okay if they want to act out a play scene more simplistically than you or enjoy the purple sky in their painting. Giving them the ability to make choices is better for their development. The process of play is more important than the result. Learn more about this in Jo Ann Gramlich’s book on interactive activities for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. The book provides you and your child with many stimulating activities and games that are developmentally appropriate and designed to help enhance your child’s speech and language skills. These games can be played when you and your child have a few extra minutes during daily routines, playtime, or story time. You can also use this book when you are moving, so carry it wherever you go.
2. Do not let the Child Over-Direct Either. You may have experienced this before when a child only wants you to play one specific character and nothing else. While kids need to play how they like, play should also help children learn to think flexibly while interacting with others. Your child’s peers may not want to play their “assigned” role so learning to compromise and be flexible is essential. Adults can help children practice this skill by finding a balance between over-directing play and encouraging children to include them. Children’s play skills vary by age and they learn through play as they grow up.
3. Do not Let Your Phone, or Any Screens, Distract You From Play. If it is hard to get away from these devices, make a designated play time when all screens are off and put away. Devote a half hour or an hour every day to play where you give your child your full attention.
4. Do not Force Activities on Your Child. Play should involve motivating and fun activities! The moment it stops being fun, it contains being played.
Final Statement
Playing with your kids builds a bond that will last forever. It lets our kids know that they are loved and appreciated. It opens the door for sharing problems and concerns when the need arises. It helps the parent get to know and understand the uniqueness of each kid. It is also a great stress reliever for overworked parents.
To Sam It All Up 