Research has shown that children benefit from playing with their parents. It helps the kids feel special and provides a stress free time for kids to bond with their parents. Try to find some time every day when you just get down and play with your kids.
Here are some ideas of things that you can do:
- Pretend Play – let your child decide what you play and play along. Be silly and have fun. I often cook with my daughters in their little kitchen. We have enjoyed many play meals together. My son loves to go “camping” we get blankets and pillows, a flashlight
and camp out on the floor. - Puppets – Using puppets is a great way to teach problem solving or social skills. They also can be an outlet for your child’s emotions or problems. Listen to what their puppets say and the situations that they are involved in.
- Go Outside – There are so many great outside activities. Throw or kick balls. Visit the park. Run around and play tag. Play in the sand. Or my daughter’s favorite, take a walk around the neighborhood.
- Play Games – My son loves to play board or card games. Games are great because they teach kids how to take turns and win and lose. A great family game is definitely worth the money. We also play hide and seek, which even our two year old can understand, although she
doesn’t stay hidden for long. - Puzzles – Put together a puzzle, a great time to talk as well as build spatial skills.
- Read Books – I have often stressed the importance of reading, but it is also a great bonding activity. Encourage your child to describe the pictures or predict what will happen next.
- Enjoy Music – My children often ask me to play a CD and dance with them. We sing songs together, especially when we are driving. We also get out the pots and pans and bang away.
- Watch a Movie – One of our kids favorite activities is to rent a movie and all pile on the couch with blankets and popcorn and watch it. The hard part is finding something the whole family can enjoy, but Disney and Pixar help with that.
- Cook Together – I can’t turn on the beaters without my daughters running to help. Most of the time I enjoy our time together, but beware cracking an egg with the help of little hands isn’t always successful.
- Create Art – Get out the paint or crayons and draw. Or get out the play dough and create. You could also do other crafts using wood, ceramic, paper maché, or any number of other materials.
Playing with your kids builds a bond that will help you through the rough times. It lets your child know that they are special. It makes sharing problems and concerns easier for both the parent and the child. Simply put playtime is important.