Ten Top Tips for
Play
Playful Parenting
The Children’s Play Council and The Children’s Society believe
that good play opportunities are a vital part of a happy, healthy
childhood. And parents have a key role in ensuring that children
enjoy a rich diet of play experiences.
Playful parenting isn’t just about spending time with your
child. It’s also about creating the opportunity for them to play on
their own and with their friends.
Ten Top Tips
When playing with children it’s not what you do, it’s the way
that you do it. So rather than give you a list of activities, these
tips aim to get you to think about the way you spend your time
playing together with your children.
- Do give your children
the chance to choose what game they want to play and how they want
to do it. Forcing them to do something they don’t like, or find too
difficult, just isn’t fun.
- Don’t solve every task for your child;
encourage them to solve the problem themselves. Doing something for
a child isn’t playing.
- Do remember that all
children are different: some like physical energetic play, some
love word games, some are born to perform and some can’t stop
making things (and destroying them). So think about the kinds of
activities your child likes and let them take the lead.
- Don’t be a 'competitive mum or dad'.
Children often say parents play to win. Learning how to lose is an
important social skill, but try to keep games enjoyable and let
them win too - sometimes!
- Don’t be afraid to join
in with your child’s make-believe games. Children love it when
parents play act and it lets their imaginations run
wild.
- Do
let your children enjoy physical challenges such as climbing trees.
Children learn through taking risks. Don’t be overly protective if
the worst that can happen is a bump or a scrape.
- Do get out of doors and
play: it’s healthier and more fun - and if they get dirty or wet,
well that’s what baths and washing machines are for. (That goes for
messy play indoors too).
- Do
let children teach you how to play with their toys or computer
games. They will take great pleasure in the role reversal and
telling you what they know.
- Do share a game you used
to play as a child, like hopscotch or making camps. Think of the
things you most enjoyed playing. The chances are your children will
enjoy the same things.
- And finally - enjoy playing. If your child is having
fun but you aren’t, just leave them to it. If they’re not having
fun, suggest something else.
The tips were written by the
Children’s Play Council and The Children’s Society, with help from
parents and playworkers. The work was supported by the British Toy
and Hobby Association The tips are reproduced here with kind
permission from the Children’s Play Council. Visit their site
here!
See also: