What to play, what to play?

Filed Under Tips & Tricks | February 20, 2008

play time

When we wrote about play last month, it was a sad but true fact that we needed some help figuring out how and what to play with our kids. So we went back to Sharon Selby, a local child counsellor, and the brains behind the Phonics Wizard, to ask for more details on the hows of play, since she’d already covered the whys.

There are lots of different kinds of play you can engage in with your child, and the best way to start is by setting aside 30 minutes to an hour a week (if possible make it for the same day and same time every week, you can even write it on your calendar for everyone to see) to play one on one with your child.

Here are some great ideas for playing with your kids of two and older:

  • Schedule a family games night and make planning it part of the fun.
  • Purchase pre-made craft kits from Michaels or Craft Caravan.
  • Stock up on recycled paper rolls, egg carton, boxes, lids, glue, scissors, construction paper and dollar store finds like pipe cleaners, pom poms, googly eyes, cotton balls and get creative. The Urban Source is a great resource, you can fill a large brown paper shopping bag with whatever fun recycled stuff takes your fancy for only $20.
  • Take out a mitt and baseball, a rugby ball, or a regular ball and use that throwing time as an opportunity to chat.
  • Other fun sports for bonding include shooting hoops, skiing and snowboarding, creating a golf course in your back yard, or investing in a croquet set.

Letting kids direct their own play is key, and they’ll soon take control when you use your imagination and gather together props to play house, restaurant, shop, doctor and train or bus.If you’re looking for ideas for play with children under one-year-old, Baby’s First Skills by Miriam Stoppard, M.D has some great ideas.

Sharon Selby, B.Ed., M.A., is a local child counsellor. She is passionate about the positive relationship between mastering reading and increased self-esteem. She is the author of The Phonics Wizard Reading Series: a learn-to-read program for parents to teach their own children early literacy skills for ages 2-7.

 

One Response to “What to play, what to play?”

  1. barbara w on February 20th, 2008 8:15 pm

    thought this book was AWESOME.
    Gymboree – The Parent’s Guide To Play
    by Wendy S. Masi

    SO so good on so many levels. did not talk down to parents, nor was it too difficult. and there are 2 dads i know that found it helpful too, so it crosses that mars/venus barrier.

    check it out.
    barbara

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