Parents can help playtime to be enjoyable, productive
and safe. Here are a few suggestions on how to help your
child at play:
Provide a child centered play area:
- Make sure it is childproof and
clean
- Avoid over-stimulation –
especially for babies
- Allow children to leave
constructions up for awhile so they come back and
engage in new adventures in the world they created
- Store play items safely but make
them easily accessible
Provide toys with play value that:
- Can be
used in many ways
- Allow
children to determine the play
- Appeal
to children at more than one age or level of
development
- Can be
used with other toys for new and more complete play
- Will
stand the test of time and continue to be part of
play as develop new interest and skills
- Help
children develop skills important for further
learning and a sense of mastery
Encourage a balance in play activities:
- Reduce
or eliminate screen time (1 or 2 hours per day max)
-
Encourage outdoor play that uses large muscles –
running, jumping, climbing and playing games is cool
-
Curtail time spent in adult-organized activities –
kid directed play is important
- Don’t
allow your child to become over-scheduled – self
directed play should be encouraged
-
Encourage new activities such as art, music,
building or science – you make the introduction then
let them on their own (some will make a hit others
won’t and that’s OK)
- How
about letting them work? – kids enjoy helping in the
kitchen and in the yard – give younger children
junior sized appliances, tools and equipment so they
can “work” beside you
