Playing With Your Child

     While children do need time to play alone and with other children without adult intervention, research shows that playtime with parents is also important.
     Children crave time with parents.  It makes them feel special.  Parents are encouraged to find time to spend playing with their kids on a regular basis.  This should include one to one with each child and group time with all of the adults and kids in the home.  If you are a single parent or have an only child, occasionally invite family or friends over to play.
     In pretend play, let the child develop the theme.  Get into their world.  Let them go with it.  Ask questions.  Play along.  Be silly along with them and have fun.  Avoid over-stimulation.  Know when it is time to stop.
     Also, when appropriate, parents can use stuffed animals or puppets to act out real-life situations that can teach problem solving or social skills.  Let the puppet demonstrate the wrong way to handle a situation.  Then, along with input from the child, act out a better way.  Afterward, let the child do the same.

More Possibilities:

• Play outdoors.  Throw balls.  Push kids on swings.  Make mud pies.  Go on a hike around the neighborhood.  Take a nature walk in your backyard.
   

• Play games – card games – board games – silly and wacky kids games.  Help them learn to take turns, how to win and how to loose.  Praise them.  Encourage them.  Laugh with them.
   

• Get involved in a craft project together.  Build a jigsaw puzzle as a family.  Bake cookies.  Paint a picture.
   

• Listen to music together.  Sing along.  Play rhythm instruments along with music.   Get out the guitar or keyboard and make music.   [Click here for recommendations of music for kids]
   

• Read a book together.  Ask questions.  Ask them to change the story or make up a new one. 
  [Great Children's Books]
   

• Watch a movie together.  Find out what they liked – how they felt.  Discover the child’s interests.  Comment on and discuss any bothersome content either words or actions.  [Family friendly videos]
   

• Play kid games like:  Follow the Leader – Guess What I Am? – Hide and Seek

Help kids when they show the need it or ask for it.  Use it as a time to teach:

• patience

• problem solving

• social skills

• creativity

     Playing with kids builds a bond that will last forever.  It lets the child know he or she is loved and appreciated.  It opens the door for sharing problems and concerns when the need arises.  It helps the parent get to know and under the uniqueness of each child.  It is also great stress reducer for overworked parents.

     Family Activities are great for the whole family.  They help develop strong family bonds which can last a lifetime.  It can be said that a family who plays together stays together.  They also are more cooperative, supportive and have open communication.  These qualities pay off in big dividends by increasing self-esteem, social skills and a sense of connectedness that helps kids and teens use good judgment when confronted with difficulties and temptations.

Develop your own Family Traditions:

• Family Traditions & Celebrations   

• Rituals for Family Connectedness   

• Family Fun Time  

Family Game Night
      Here's a great tradition that is easy to start.  Pick a night and make it family game night.  Gradually add games that can be fun for the entire family.  Take turns choosing the game to play.  Make sure the games are appropriate for the youngest player.  A great time to bond through friendly competition.  Learn how to take turns and play fair.  Learn how to be a good looser and well as a good winner.  Here are some of our favorites by age group:    3y - 5y   6y - 9y   10y -14y

Encourage Outdoor Activities
     Now is the time to stop the "Couch Potato" syndrome.  Pediatricians find that most kids are not getting enough exercise.  Parents can be good role models by going outside and playing along with their kids.  Hey, it is good for adults as well.  Encourage your child to be active.  Help them develop motor coordination and learn good sportsmanship.  Here are a few great suggestions: 
Kites & Wind Spinners  Lawn Games  Fishing Combo's & Accessories
Here are more suggestions for outdoor fun activities you can introduce to your child and then encourage them to engage on them on their own or with siblings or neighborhood friends.

Family Time Can Be A Time For Learning and Growing:

• Family Activities to Promote Learning & Development 

• Family Activities to Promote Reading

• Developmental Play – Babies   

• Developmental Play – Toddlers  

• Developmental Play – Preschoolers

• Addison-Wesley Active Learning Series: 

                              
Active Learning for Infants   
Active Learning for Ones   
Active Learning for Twos   
Active Learning for Threes   
Active Learning for Fours    
Active Learning for Fives

Hobbies Are A Great Way To Have Fun And Develop A Lifetime of Bonding:

Here are some recommendations from us to get you started:

Crafts & Hobbies Quick Start  By age Group: 18m-36m   3y - 5y    6y - 9y    10y - 14y

Craft Kits  Candle Making  Cartooning  Flower Pressing  Glass Arts & Sun Catchers  Jewelry  Painting  Paper Craft  Pottery  Sand Art  Scrapbooking  Scratch Art  Sewing Craft  Stamp Making  Tie-Die & Fashion  Wood

Art Supply Sets & Kits    Aprons & Smocks  Art Supply Sets & Kits  Chalk & Chalkboards
Charcoals & Pastels  Clay, Dough & Pottery  Crayons  Drawing & Sketch Pads  Drawing & Sketching Tablets  Dry Erase Markers & Boards  Easels  Glue, Paste & Tape  Paintbrushes  Paints  Paper  Pencils & Erasers  Pens & Markers  Scissors  Sharpeners  Stamps & Stickers

Models:   6y - 9y    10y - 14y    Accessories  Animals & Insects  Buildings & Bridges  Figures & Robots  Vehicles

OR you can browse through these books and find something that fits your own unique interests:

Applique    Baskets    Beadwork    Book Making & Binding    Candlemaking    Crafts for Children    Crocheting    Cross-Stitch    Decorating    Dollhouses    Dough    Dried Flowers    Dye    Embroidery    Fashion    Flower Arranging    Framing    Fun with Paper & Wood, Stones & Knives    General    Glass & Glassware    Jewelry    Knitting    Lace & Tatting    Lapidary    Leathercraft    Metal Work    Miniatures    Mobiles    Model Trains    Models    Needlecrafts    Needlepoint    Needlework    Origami    Painting    Papercrafts    Patchwork    Potpourri    Pottery & Ceramics    Printmaking    Puppets & Puppetry    Quilts & Quilting    Radio Operation    Reference    Ribbons    Rubber Stamping    Rugs    Scrapbooking    Seasonal    Sewing    Soap Making    Spinning    Stenciling    Stuffed Animals    Textile Arts    Toymaking    Weaving    Wood Toys    Woodworking    Wreathmaking