Welcome to our first "Social Saturdays" episode on the "No Problem Parenting Podcast.
"What are the benefits of parent/child play, and how can you make it awesome for kids of all ages and for you the parent?"
A study in the Journal of Marriage and Family revealed that shared leisure activities, including play, are linked to greater satisfaction in family relationships. So, there's more to play than just about keeping kids busy or entertained.
Play Builds Curiosity, Trust, and Connection – If you are finding yourself yelling all the time, play is a great way to stop feeding the problems in your home with anger and frustration and setting the tone in your home to be more fun and joyful. Kids don’t want you to yell, but if seeing you yell is the only excitement or animation they get from you, you might notice they are pushing your buttons to gain your attention even if it is negative attention.
You are the leader of your home and can shift the tone in your home and today I’m going to give you some ideas for how to do that with infants to teens.
When you actively engage in play with your children, whether it's peek-a-boo, building LEGO towers, constructing forts, or even pretending to be superheroes, you create a foundation of curiosity, trust, and connection that lasts a lifetime.
Check out my conversation with Curt Jordan from Kong Academy in EP 50. Curt is one of the authors in our first book, NPP Raising your kiddos with more confidence and less fear. His chapter is titled Let Kids Play Their Way and I’ve included a link in the show notes for more ideas on how a family can beat the winter blues. Lots of fun adventure ideas that you can access right from your home! Have the Winter Blues? Check out Kong Academys
How a Family Can Beat the Winter Blues Adventures HERE
Play isn't just for the kiddos; it's a fantastic stress-buster for parents too. Even just 15 minutes of imaginative play can be a mini-vacation from the hustle and bustle of daily life. Play is an opportunity to let your guard down, be silly with your kids, no matter their age. Even teens can't resist a good laugh when mom or dad are being silly
Let’s be intentional about playing with our kids. What if you looked forward to playtime with your kids as much as you look forward to hanging out with friends? Playtime, even with teens doesn't have to always mean going somewhere. There are plenty of activities you can do right at home.
Make playtime a non-negotiable in your schedule. It can become an anticipated moment of joy in your routine. Again, Even if it's just 15 minutes, set your timer, fully engage with your kids during that time, and watch the magic unfold.
Glenn Lundy shared in EP 172 why we should Stop spending time with our family and invest the time instead.
Here are three tips to keep in mind:
1. Be Present and Engaged: Put away distractions and go all in, in the playtime experience with your child. Being present shows your child that you value and enjoy the time spent together.
2. Follow Their Lead: Allow your child to take the lead in play. Follow their interests and cues, even if it means stepping into their imaginative world. This encourages their creativity and strengthens the bond and connection between you and your child. Ask open-ended questions to learn more about their ideas and check your ego at the door. Playtime is not about knowing more than your child, do your best to let your child know more than you so respond with questions like “I wonder if…..” instead of telling them why something they are doing won’t work.
3. Quality Over Quantity: It's not about the duration of playtime; it's about the quality of interaction. Even if you have limited time, make those moments count. Choose activities that your child is interested in, and focus on creating positive, memorable experiences. Quality playtime even if rare, leaves a lasting impact on your relationship on your child. The more opportunity you have to play with your child, the more you invest in time with your child, the less problems you will encounter as they grow.
Listen in today as I share some playtime examples for children of different age groups.
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Parents,
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EP 215 Mindset & Motivation Monday; A Fresh Start! Choose Optimism in the New Year!
EP 214 No Problem Parenting News: Daily Themed Episodes in 2024!
EP 213 Part 3/3 Holiday Harmony Series: Sweets, Treats, and Taming Sugar Overload with Jaci Finneman
EP 212 Mindful Bites: Rethinking Food, Feelings, and Family Wellness with Shirley Billigmeier
EP 211 Honoring Legacies, Navigating Loss, and Finding Strength in ’My Teacher, My Son’” with Author Nick Shaw
EP 210 Part 3/3 Mission Control: A Big Feelings Adventure, Prosocial Behaviors with Author Nan Arkwright
EP 209 Part 2/3: No Problem Parenting Holiday Harmony Series - Family Gatherings and your Introverted Child
EP 208 Part 2/3 Mission Control: A Big Feelings Adventure (ages 3-13) Emotional Regulation with Author Nan Arkwright
EP 207 Part 1/3: Mission Control: A Big Feelings Adventure - Bedtime Battles, with Author Nan Arkwright
EP 206 From the Streets to Success - Rising Above: Mike’s Unconventional Path and Parenting Wisdom
EP 205 Part 1/3: ”No Problem Parenting Holiday Harmony Series” - Taming Tantrums in Stores and at Events with Jaci Finneman
EP 204 Mastering Your Emotional House: Understanding the ’House of WOE’ with the Parent Doctor, Dr. Marissa Caudill
EP 203 5 Practical Tips to Prevent Mom Rage with special guest Elizabeth Andreyevsky
EP 202 Pandemic Moms Turn Toddler Tantrums into Teachable Moments with Guest Cara Tyrrell M.Ed
EP 201 Part 6/6: 60 Ways to Respond to Your Kids without Losing Your Cool
EP 200 Am I a Good Enough Parent? with special guest Bill Senyard
EP 199 Top 10 Episodes & Celebrating 10 Years of Supporting Parents with Jaci Finneman
EP 198 Listening Builds Trust: Create a Crazy Cool Family with special guests Don & Suzanne Manning
EP 197 Part 5/6: 60 Ways to Respond to Your Kids without Losing Your Cool
EP 196 Trauma Informed Parenting: NLP & Mind Mapping with special guest Dr Maiysha Clairborne
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