One of the quickest and easiest ways to connect with kids and build a wonderful relationship with them is to be playful with them.
Children’s natural language is play, so when we play with them we really are communicating with them. It’s the most perfect way to show them that they are loved and important.
But sometimes as adults we’ve forgotten how to play. I doesn’t come as naturally as it used to.
Our child asks us to play and instead of jumping right in and playing, we sometimes grunt and groan about it or push them away. We don’t do this because we don’t love them, but because play is harder for us and we have LOTS of other things to do besides “just play”.
But being playful doesn’t mean that we have to sit and pretend to play “shopping” or “fire station” for the one hundredth time that day.
I prefer to be playful as we go through our day.
- I sing songs when I great them in the morning (most of them made up on the spot)
- If they are having a hard time getting up, I jump on their beds and tickle them.
- I dance and sing while making meals.
- We chase each other around the house and outside.
- I mess up animal sounds “The duck goes oink!”
- We jump over the lines in the sidewalk together while walking.
- I say the wrong words in their favorite book.
- I make weird faces at them from across the room.
- We horseplay and wrestle.
- I give piggy back rides on the way to bed.
Now remember to always take your child’s mood in to consideration. If they are really grumpy then jumping on their bed may not be the nicest thing. Crawling in and cuddling might be a more appropriate response.
When we incorporate play in our everyday lives, the connection with our kids gets stronger which means that they feel more accepted and loved.
Plus, play is good for your soul too.
So, how do you play with your kids?
Some other great ways to play
Be a Playful Mom
Sing like and Opera Singer
Build Family Connections
While helping my littles dressed I say, “oh no! Where are your arms? I will miss your his.” And exaggerate being worried or sad. When they pop their arms or legs through I get super excited we found the missing appendage. They giggle and light and get a kick out of it everytime!
Hi! This is a great list of ways to play silly! I referenced it in a post I did recently, http://www.learningbydesign-wi.com/2014/09/how-to-use-routine-to-structure-your.html and just wanted to give you credit. Hope you’ll check it out!
I almost cried when I read this. Playing with my daughter is BY FAR the most challenging/least enjoyable (*cringe*) thing for me when it comes to being a parent. But I do the stuff on hour list all the time! I’m not blowing it! Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Love this list! My little ones are all about action songs right now, so we’re always singing at home and even in the car. Long road trips are much more enjoyable singing and dancing to silly songs and it sure helps with the energy level! Thanks for your inspiration!
Fab list Amanda – I am finding it harder and harder to make that mental leap into imaginative play and good to remember other ways in which we can “play”
I was frustrated the other day when my toddler wanted to stop every 10 seconds to look at stuff on our way home from the post office. I was starting to steam and was about to whisk her up and carry her away, knowing she would protest. And then I remembered playfulness. I asked her if she could hop like a bunny, even though I knew she couldn’t. But my demonstration suprised and delighted her, and she chased me half a block before getting distracted again. By then I was in a better mood. And I got a little bit of a workout 🙂
I love it! It’s amazing what a little play can do 🙂
I do need help with pretend play. I was never a barbie person. My dasughter always wants to play with her descendants or dc superheroes or princesses. I am ok with baby stuff but the other stuff is hard. My daughter hates singing and dance parties? I keep trying to do things with my 2.5 year old but all she wants is a tablet.