Kids love to play games, and they should be encouraged to do so as much as possible. It isn’t just because it is fun, play has an essential role in their mental and physical development. Playtime will help your kid’s brain development and allow them to explore skills such as motor, creativity, and communication.
Many everyday tasks can be learned through play, and even if you don’t have a lot of time on your hands to dedicate to playtime, pretty much any activity can be adapted in a way which involves your kid. In this post, we will highlight the importance of playing for kids and make some suggestions on how to integrate play into your daily routine.
Benefits of Playing for Kids
Play is such a vital part of a child’s development and should be started from when they are a baby. There are many benefits which can help in all areas of the development and set up a solid foundation for their later life:
- develop motor skills
- build confidence
- learn social and communication skills
- develop their speech
- build strong emotional bonds with family members
Exercise with a Baby
One of the things we often hear parents say is that they have no time to do exercise. Well, you can actually exercise, with activities such as yoga, in a way which will involve your baby or young child. There are numerous yoga poses which are possible to do with a baby in your arms or underneath you. The intimate nature will help your baby emotionally and strengthen their muscles.
Your baby is going to be inquisitive to the sights, shapes, and sounds of the world around her, so try and make it fun by doing show and tell, as well as using soft toys which she can learn to grab and hold.
Household Chores
This might seem like a funny way to play with your child, but it is a great way to be smart with your time and interact with your child. You can turn any household job into a fun activity by incorporating movement or songs. Your little one will appreciate the time they get to spend with you, and they can also be taught new skills.
You can get them to help you with the washing up, cleaning, or cooking. As they get older, they can be given extra responsibilities which will help them become more independent (and hopefully more helpful around the house!)
Keep Active
As your child starts to move around, you are going to have a hard time getting them to stay in one place for longer than five minutes. This is just part of their natural development and should be taken advantage of by allowing as much time for movement as possible.
From an early age, you can play music and dance with them around the house, this helps them respond to different rhythms and develop coordination. Balls are great for children of all age, and as they grow, you can change the complexity of the activities.
As a family try to get out and about as much as possible. Give your kids lots of opportunities to run and play games. It helps them develop physically and build confidence so the more, the better.
Dedicated Playtime
Even if you are super busy, it is crucial that you do set aside some dedicated playtime for you and your child. You don’t have to do anything special, just sit yourself down with your child and see where their imagination takes them. This form of unstructured play can help them develop their creativity – it can also be a lot of fun for you too!
The dedicated time will help build up a stronger emotional bond with your child, but don’t worry too much if you feel pressured by time. There are many ways to create a dedicated playtime by taking advantage of willing family members and siblings or enrolling little one in a playgroup.