The Power of Play

By: Samantha Angulo

We know that young children love to play! So much so, that as a parent you may struggle to transition your kids away from playing when it’s time to switch activities or go somewhere else.

Play promotes a variety of skills in young children including creativity, social skills, and even academic skills among others. All of which are beneficial for them throughout their lives and across different settings.

Although many of us know about the positive effects of young children playing alone or with each other, we may not have considered that engaging in play with kids ourselves might create a positive impact. Specifically, child-led play – in which you as a parent follow your child’s lead, let them set the rules, and play however they want – can have several additional benefits for your child’s behavior and learning.

Engaging in child-led play for even five minutes a day can positively impact not only them but you and your overall relationship.

Let’s talk about the benefits:

1. Greater acceptance of boundaries:

Spending time playing with your child gives them a chance to have your undivided attention. Oftentimes, when children push back at limits, they do so to get your attention. Playing with them allows you to give them more consistent positive attention, which may decrease their need to act out. Childled play, also allows kids to have a greater sense of control, leading to fewer arguments in moments when you need your child to listen to you.

2. Modeling appropriate play:

Playing with your child allows them to learn skills to play and communicate appropriately with others. How? Modeling! Children often copy the behavior of adults around them, especially their parents. While playing with your child you can model skills like taking turns, sharing and listening – all of which are important to help children play well with others and make friends.

3. Increased confidence:

Child-led play can promote your child’s leadership skills from a young age. This, because they are setting up the rules of the game and directing you as their parents in how to play. In playing along with them and accepting their rules, you as a parent are showing that you approve of what they are doing, which may help your child feel more confident in themselves as a result.

4. Learning new things:

Play is an excellent means to introduce learning in a way that young children not only comprehend but find interesting! Although it may be hard for your child to sit at a desk, they might be much more willing to actively participate when it’s a part of a game they enjoy. Play is often also a way in which young children may express their own emotions. By engaging in child-led play with your child you might even find that you learn something new about them and understand them better as well.

5. Decreased stress for you:

Many parents report that in being present moment while playing with their child can help them destress from their own worries and preoccupations. This comes as a result of really trying to engage with you child and play a game that is often even fun for you as an adult. Although it’s not the typical thing you may think of when you think self-care, play may help you unwind at the end of a long day.

And Most Importantly,

6. A Stronger Bond:

playing with your child, and giving them more of your positive attention, shows them that you are a safe person and space for them. This allows you to build an even stronger relationship, really showing them that you accept and love them. In and of itself, this establishes a foundation of trust between you and your child, which has a great deal of benefits including the ones discussed above. As a parent, playing with your child is a great way for you to get down on their level, and reinforce the strong relationship you already have.

Consistency is key. Just like any new habit we try to incorporate into our lives, it may take time to see the positive outcomes. Every child is different and may benefit in different ways from playing with their parent. However, I hope that this blog may have inspired you to spend some time playing with your children to see for yourself how something as simple as five minutes can create positive changes.