How many times a day are you telling your kids to GO AND PLAY? With our daughters this doesn’t seem to be a problem, their ability to find something to do and immerse themselves into it, but for our son, it is an entirely different matter.
He is a logical sort of kid, almost too logical. He questions everything, assessing and analyzing. Things are black and white in his world and he will argue a point past all reason. His ability to create moments of play is different than his sisters, and usually ends up with him showing me his rock collection, or playing (egad) chess on a sunny day.
But if you take the time to start him off, or spark his imagination, then his creativity will ignite, but sometimes it is hard to find the inspiration (and time) to do that!
He often tells me how much fun his middle sister is. She is still young enough to play, and has an entirely illogical set of rules to what she does.
She creates scenarios, and activities, fully scripted puppet shows, and entirely renovates the basement to become a hospital/schoolroom/deserted island that will set the scene for their story.
She flits from one creative moment to the next, never stopping to clean up (which frustrates me to no end) but her ability to play and be in the moment is extraordinary. And her ability to inspire her brother to play has to limits.
She cartwheels around our lawn, with her living brother following in her wake. She stuffs him into our tractor trailer, imagining he is wounded in action, or drags his body up onto the couch, saving him from the LAVA.
A simple play-doh session turns into a full scale restaurant with dozens of teddy and doll customers. She has layers and layers to her play, one moment transitioning easily onto the next.
And her biggest fan, partner in crime, play thing, and accessory is her devoted brother, who looks at her with godly love because of her ability to play.
I can only hope that as they both get older he will absorb some of her skills so that when she is “too old” to play with him, he will be able to recreate some of these memorable experiences himself.
Or perhaps set new scenes that drag his older sisters in because they are just so awesome.
There is more to play than it seems as well. Kids learn amazing skills and techniques throw the play they do, and it has shown a positive affect on their math, vocabulary and other necessary skills. As parents, our ability to set them up for successful play is important, providing them with thought starters, simple props and the ability to, independently, define their play.
Yes, even avoiding lava while jumping on your couch has value. . .
Check out the Genius of Play Website for more tips and tricks on how to encourage your children to PLAY, and get a better understand of the VALUE of what they are doing and how it can benefit their life.
Perhaps next time they say “I’m Bored” you will find more inspiration to set them up for successful play (I know I will) and join me as I take the “Play Pledge” and sign up for inspiration and ideas to help my kids “Go and Play” more each day.