That children can play alone is very important for their development, although that does not mean that it is not necessary to play with your children. Spending time with the family, a time dedicated to the fun of the child, to doing activities that they like, is essential for the emotional development of the child. A few minutes a day is sufficient, as long as it is an exclusive time for the game.
Forget about any distractions, put your mobile phone away and turn off the television. In this way, your child can enjoy you and feel that it is a fundamental part of your life. Because even if children do not know how to express it, they need to know that they are important, that are part of the family nucleus and for this, they need time to be dedicated to.
If you need help because you don't know how to play with your children, don't miss the following tips. It's never too late to start, as long as the first time it becomes a family play routine. From which both children and parents will reap great benefits.
How can I play with my children
Not only is it important to look for activities that are fun for them, it is also necessary to take into account their preferences, rhythms and needs. Only then, playing with your children will be a fun activity and not an obligation. Take note of the following keys to learn to play with your children.
- Do not compete with your children: Children must learn to win and also to lose, it is a basic rule of shared play. Now, that time of play should not become a competition, but a fun and learning time. Take the opportunity for your children to learn to manage frustration, expressing how they feel when they don't win the game.
- Encourage free play: Children love to mix all the colors of the play dough or invent different ways to use the toys. This part of the game is essential and you should let them explore it freely. That means you should not correct your children while they playAvoid expressions like "that's wrong" or "that's not how you play." Instead, mimic their games to make you feel part of the activity.
- Let the children raise the games: Perhaps it is more comfortable to sit at the table to do a puzzle, but it is not about you, but about playing with your children, whatever they want. Allow them to explore their interests and, if necessary, use tools to redirect the game if necessary.
- Accept their needs: Depending on age and stage of development, children will have a greater or lesser ability to maintain concentration in a single game. So they may want to switch activities frequently, let them explore their creativity and that they discover the games they like the most.
- It is also possible that the opposite is true and that the child wants to repeat the same game over and over again, especially with those who like it the most. This attitude is normal, since children have to practice before they are sure they can do things.
What to play with the children
The options are endless and you don't even need materials or too many games. Even the simplest activities can become a whole family experience, full of laughter and fun. For example, you can organize a gymkhana at home, a craft workshopa laughter therapy session and even take the opportunity to learn things about other cultures, such as a tea ceremony adapted.
The most important thing is that the time to play with your children forget about any other obligation. Have fun, laugh and enjoy the children's occurrences. These are the true essential moments in life, the ones that remind you of the meaning of family and to which you can turn when you find yourself in a moment of frustration. Learn to play with your children and you will enjoy the most beautiful part of motherhood, leisure time with your children.