While there is already lots of detailed research in support for this theory what we’ve challenged ourselves to do is present this information to you with real play suggestions, hints and tips to help you make the best decisions for your family.
The Child & Family Web Guide produces some excellent tips to help you and your child get the most out of play. They highlight the importance the role of play has in your child’s development, as it teaches them new skills, explores their imagination, increases their creativity and helps them learn about relationships with other people. Some of their advice for you to make the most out of your child’s playtime is mentioned below.
Follow your child’s lead.
There is no ‘right’ way of playing with a toy. Every toy can be used in so many different ways, each bringing a different aspect to their learning and development. So when you give a toy to a child, baby or toddler let them show you how they want to play with it, even if it isn’t the ‘right’ way.
Go Slowly.
It can often be tempting to ‘do it for them’ when introducing a new toy to a child. But try not to do this every time. Instead offer the starting point, such as stacking one block on top of another, then encourage them to give it a try. As a parent you can offer just enough help to prevent frustration building and the blocks being thrown around the room, but instead keeping them motivated to increase their skills.
Play it again, and again, and again...?
Try to resist hiding that toy that you just can’t bare to play with one more time. Children are practicing so they can master the challenge. And when they can do it ‘all by myself’ they are rewarded with self confidence and assurance in themselves that they are smart and successful. This gives them confidence in the future to take on new challenges and therefore the learning continues.
Another article written by Ginsburg and the American Academy of Pediatrics says ‘Parents who have the opportunity to glimpse into their children’s world learn to communicate more effectively with their children and are given another setting to offer gentle, nurturing guidance.’
It is also stated that children are most likely to gain essential traits such as honesty, generosity, decency, tenacity and compassion in a home in which parents and children have time to be together and to look to each other for positive support and unconditional love.
Therefore, it seems that parent-child play is particularly important in the development of essential personality traits as well as teaching them essential life skills. There are so many different ways for parents to have this interaction with their children and you don’t need to spend a fortune on new toys to keep them interested in doing this.
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