Early childhood educators have called play "children's work". Many parents believe their children should be doing something more productive than merely having fun. But, actually, play fosters physical, emotional, intellectual and social development. Encouraging your child to play is vital for his development as well as his happiness.
What is Play?
The dictionary refers to play as recreation. Recreation is a very significant word in building and sustaining strong families. If you capitalize and hyphenate this important word it becomes Re-Creation. This is exactly what having fun with your family by playing games and sharing activities can do. Playing together can recreate your family. It can revitalize, rejuvenate and inspire with energy, life and laughter. It can offer the whole families another chance to connect on a level that you perhaps are not connecting on right now.
We frequently consider play only as the opposite of work, thus we can only have fun when the work is done. I propose that we incorporate play into work sometimes and other times we spend time re-creating ourselves before or after the chores have been accomplished. It is amazing how energized everyone will be after a game of tag in the yard. You will be astounded at how quickly the dishes get done when everyone knows it is a Monopoly or UNO night.
Use Imagination and energy to have fun
In past generations, kids learned to create fun by using personal resources-imagination and energy. We were outside running, jumping, building and creating for hours and hours. Our play usually ended only when our mothers called us in for dinner or a bath.
Today's child is generally programmed with a fully scheduled week of lessons and highly competitive adult managed and supervised sports. Any free time is spent passively watching television leaving little opportunity to develop creativity and initiative.
By establishing a time to "play" you are stimulating your children's creativity and imagination. Children who learn early to take initiative for providing their own entertainment are less likely in the future to depend on artificial stimulants to "turn themselves on."
Establish a Family Fun Night
Many of us are employed in highly stressful jobs and the list of stress-related illnesses grows daily. The more stressed and cranky we are, the less our children want to be around us. By planning quality time spent just fooling around with our kids, the whole family will come out a winner.
As the characteristics of the family have changed over the years with more mothers working outside the house and fathers expected to play a greater role in the child rearing, it is a perfect opportunity to incorporate with the whole family a special time. But how about the many step-families, one-parent families and transient families who move frequently and live far from extended family? This is a method for creating unity and making the most of time together.
The family unit defines who we are and shapes our character. It is in the family dynamic that we learn the important lessons of self-discipline, the art of compromise, cooperation, forgiveness, honesty and fair play. By sharing activities on a regular basis we can teach by example as well as with verbal and non-verbal clues. There is a sense of safety in learning life skills in the family setting and then incorporating them into the real world. We know we will always be loved, even if we do strike out or make a mistake or look foolish sometimes.
Many children are being raised by the television.
Oh sure, they might have moms and dads who pay the rent, fix the meals, and drive them to sports practice, but essentially they are learning their standards, morals and ethics from a 24 inch box in their bedroom or the family room.
Mary Pittaway, registered dietician who heads up the WIC (Women, Infants and Children) program in our community has said "children spend eight hours sleeping, two hours eating, five hours at school, 6 hours watching TV, less than one hour in physical activity, three hours engaged in other activities and five minutes in meaningful conversation with their parents on any given day."
Kids who spend too much time in front of a TV or video game are at risk for a great many health concerns, especially type II diabetes, which is skyrocketing among young children. Overweight children are more vulnerable to high blood pressure, gall bladder disease, asthma, and bone and joint problems.
What happens when children don't have play time?
The most devastating result of inactivity and obesity in our children is an emotional cycle of low self-esteem. The less they like themselves, the less likely they are to participate in sports or be active physically-the very thing that could help them. We can lecture them about the benefits of activity, but they will listen and participate more readily if the whole family is involved and it doesn't single them or their problem out.
For a free report on "Helping Your Child Fit In" go to my website www.ArtichokePress.com. In that report you will find that one of the major problems facing left out kids is the inability to play with others. Many classroom and playground problems of fitting in, being clumsy, perceptual-motor skills, social and emotional inadequacies, may be prevented or lessened by parents developing a time to do movement activities, which means in common language, play with their infants and children on an on-going basis.
Will play help your child succeed in life?
The games and activities you share as a family does not automatically guarantee better communication, healthier bodies and minds or a close-knit family. However, being available, approachable, and willing to step out of your comfort zone will insure a higher chance of children who succeed in life.
All of these activities are just vehicles to bring you and your child into close contact for a period of time where barriers are down and talking and laughing are up. Conversations and meaningful dialog will follow, maybe not right away, but kids recognize that you are willing to relax and spend time with them.
They don't want you as a pal but they do need you as a friend. Best friends play, laugh and hang out together frequently. They build bonds of loyalty, respect and love that last forever. Playful parenting is more than just fun and games. Come on; let's go kick the ball around the back yard.
© 2005 www.ArtichokePress.com
Parent educator and PBS "Ready to Learn" consultant, Judy H. Wright works with Head Start staff, child care resource centers, schools and parent organizations internationally. As a powerful and popular presenter for adults who work with children, Judy's also authored over twenty books. For more information on books, clients and testimonials or to book Judy for your next event, call 1-877-842-3431 or go to www.ArtichokePress.com. She is a founding member of Montana Speakers Network and is a regional representative for National Association for Women Writers.
There's a new kind of fun and calm out there... Read More
Julia Roberts recently gave birth to twins: Hazel and Phinnaeus.... Read More
I WAS AMAZEDI could hardly believe what I was hearing.... Read More
Many parenting books advise against eating out with young children.... Read More
What is the mystery of motherhood? I know that when... Read More
As our children grow, they will be going to schools... Read More
Until the moment I became a mother, I couldn't quite... Read More
What do you mean average? Not good? Just doing good... Read More
I could nearly fund my children's future education if I... Read More
The formula is pretty straightforward: energy in/energy out. This is... Read More
Are you glad for the chance to put your child... Read More
How would you like to have a closer relationship with... Read More
The back-to-school shopping is done. Brand new pencils, colored markers,... Read More
Coupons can be a great tool in educating your child... Read More
Sitterphobe "I never have a second to myself," this mother... Read More
Mealtimes together deserve an important place in any family. Around... Read More
A parent writes in, ``We are having a hard time... Read More
For most children, it is easy to learn to read... Read More
Fizzy sherbet in a paper bag with a strawberry lollipop... Read More
When my daughter was born, I must admit there was... Read More
If you spend any time in the parenting section of... Read More
Single parents are not often thought of as good parents.I... Read More
Q. My daughter has gotten very good at manipulating us,... Read More
"Do not think that love, in order to be genuine,... Read More
What's hard for teenagersHaving people who don't understand you trying... Read More
How in the world do you get your child to... Read More
It can be hard being a parent with a teen... Read More
Did you know there's a game children and parents play... Read More
In today's fast-paced society, many families depend on some form... Read More
Are men to blame for the divorce problem in this... Read More
I wanted to share with you one of the most... Read More
"Not another meeting!"That tends to be the reaction from many... Read More
If your child or teen has been diagnosed with Attention... Read More
Direct Answers - Column for the week of May 31,... Read More
Ok. So you're a dad to be. If you're like... Read More
Single parents are not often thought of as good parents.I... Read More
Being in a competitive world, the lowest qualification to secure... Read More
If you ever walk through an orphanage, it will be... Read More
Q. Things have been relatively calm and OK with our... Read More
Recess has begun disappearing in states all around the country.... Read More
We are all familiar with the stories that most students... Read More
Join a growing number of parents and teachers!Fact: Last year,... Read More
Once the newness has worn off a little, you will... Read More
Public-school teaching is structured in such a way that it... Read More
Remember when cash was a tangible commodity in all of... Read More
Lead is one of the most dangerous toxins a person... Read More
It was no contest. Given a choice between a ball... Read More
You're trying to catch up on some sleep on a... Read More
A friend phoned her neighbor, complaining about the wafts of... Read More
What do you do when your child begins talking to... Read More
It was a hot summer day in august and The... Read More
One of the basic issues we need to understand is... Read More
The choices are mind numbing. Walk into any toy store... Read More
Most teens go into the work world ill-prepared to manage... Read More
You need to smart to be able influence adolescents. You... Read More
"You can learn many things from children. How much patience... Read More
With the beginning of the new school year coming VERY... Read More
Q: Whenever we tell my daughter "no," she just bugs... Read More
Teens don't learn responsibility overnight. If you haven't been working... Read More
Joey steps away from his time out chair "I won't... Read More
Teenagers are a work-in-progress, and parenting teenagers can be tricky... Read More
There is little doubt that reading, 'riting and 'rithmetic are... Read More
Here are ten simple pleasures you can enjoy with your... Read More
We all want to comfort our children after they suffer... Read More
Coping with a child's bad behavior, perhaps more than any... Read More
The Greatest Gifts in Life, which are always created for... Read More
Parenting |