Children need play for positive development. It is how their little bodies release stress, exercise, make sense of things, expand their minds, and nurture a natural love of learning.
What can parents do to protect their child’s playtime?
PICK ONE OR TWO ACTIVITIES AT A TIME THAT THE CHILD CHOOSES.
If your child wants to do swimming, piano, hockey and gymnastics, try to schedule them out over the year so perhaps swimming can happen in spring/ fall, hockey in winter, and the other two get split in the year so only two activities are happening during one period of time.
DO INTERESTED ACTIVITIES CASUALLY RATHER THAN AS A SCHEDULED EVENT.
For example, if your child really wants to play basketball but already has her time booked, take her to your local school basketball hoop, encouraging pick-up play.
HOLD OFF INTRODUCING THINGS WITH SCREENS UNTIL AFTER AGE FOUR.
As per the American Pediatric Association’s official recommendations, children under two should have NO screen time (mobile devices, electronic toys with screens, computers, TV, video games). Regardless of any company’s claim, screens are not “educational” for toddlers/ preschoolers and the real education lies in the real world, as Raffi says. Introducing screens too early can kill the desire for free play. It is hard to compete with a flashing, bright screen. Children need to get used to playing without these objects first.
PUT YOUR CHILD IN DIFFERENT ENVIRONMENTS, WITHOUT DIRECTING THE PLAY.
Take your child to new places like your closest forest, riverbank, sand pile, and backyard to just see what happens.
LET YOUR CHILD DECIDE WHAT TO PLAY WITH.
Resist the urge to orchestrate what the child is playing with and when. Parents do not need to “entertain” their children — the natural urge to explore will kick in when a child is given the space to be curious.
BACK UP AT PLAYGROUNDS.
Do what you can to make the play space for your child safe and then back away. Take young ones to a play area that is age appropriate and go sit on the bench for a rest! Certainly do keep your eye on your child, but children need the space to push their own safety boundary — they will learn what they feel comfortable doing. If your child looks stuck and screeches for help, try talking him or her down first. Children gain a sense of capability when they can get themselves out of a sticky situation. If parents continually are a foot away to scoop in and save the day, children can miss the important learning that happens from making mistakes. They may also come to depend on you instead of their own capabilities.
I’d love to hear what you do to protect your child’s playtime. You can post that in the comments below or over on my Facebook page.
“Play is often talked about as if it were relief from serious learning. But for children, play is serious learning. Play is really the work of childhood.” —Fred Rogers
Children need play for positive development. It is how their little bodies release stress, exercise, make sense of things, expand their minds, and nurture a natural love of learning.