Sometimes it is hard to know where to start when it comes to not just watching your child play, but instead, actually playing with your children. However, active, engaged play with your children is shown to increase your children’s confidence, help them cope with stress and regulate their emotions. Additionally, the bond between a child and his or her parent are made stronger through active play together.
Listed are a few helpful ideas to keep in mind while playing with your child to maximize their growth and development. Although they seem simple, you might be surprised at how challenging it can be to set aside your role as a “parent” and to follow your child as they lead the time of play together.
Let them choose. When it comes to deciding what to play, let your child lead. Empower them in their decision-making. Letting your child choose enables them to express their own interests, which might even surprise you!
Let them set the rules. As the adult, you might assume you know the “rules” to the game, but allow for your child to set the rules for play (obviously within reason), even if the rules are brand new or don’t exactly make sense to you.
Allow yourself to not be in control. As a parent, we are used to being “in control.” In fact, in many aspects of life, it is expected that you, as the parent, are in control. However, in times of play, seek to set your inclination for control aside. Hold your tongue. Ask questions when you don’t understand something, but resist the urge to take back control of the playtime together.
When possible, seek to implement these concepts into action when playing with your children. Regular, engaged time spent with your children will pay dividends in your relationship with them, and their development as a person.
If you’re struggling to know where to start in engaging with your children, reach out to us at New Horizons Center for Healing, and our licensed therapists can help you. Or, maybe your child isn’t seeming receptive to your efforts to engage in play with him or her. If this is the case, there might be more going on than what meets the eye, and our therapists can help you navigate that concern as well.
