It is not always easy to react to a request like this: “Mommy, play with me?” or “Daddy, are we going to play?” It is common for mothers and fathers to be torn between their daily tasks and their desire to share special moments playing with their children. The good news is that while playing, interacting with parents and other children is important – however, playing alone is also good for little ones.
The moments of fun between parents and children strengthen affective bonds, but on the other hand, it is essential to know how to give space for the child to play, have fun, and learn on their own. This is an important milestone in their children’s development and, as a bonus, parents get some time for themselves.
[lwptoc]The first few months with a baby demand a lot from their parents. They spend hours lulling, caring, singing, playing and even rolling on the floor with the little ones. Playing with parents is proven to be positive for child development.
Neuroscientists have proven that the interaction of the child with the adult generates feelings of security and pleasure, essential factors for mental health, and improve their mental abilities.
However, over time, the child should also be encouraged to have fun alone at certain times. This will bring several benefits to your development and also for parents. Below are some of the main reasons to encourage your child to play alone:
Children are naturally creative and have a super-powerful imagination. When adults participate in the games, sometimes they end up taking the wheels and guiding the child, inadvertently interfering in the protagonist of the child. Playing alone, the little one will be freer to imagine, invent stories, conversations, and create worlds on their own.
Being able to play alone is one of the first forms of independence that the child can acquire. That way, she won’t need adults or classmates all the time, and this social independence is important to be comfortable in other situations in the future.
As the children grow up, they understand that they will not always have someone by their side at all times. So, it is important to be aware that they are not dependent on anyone for fun. This makes them more confident and satisfied individuals.
Often, playing in a group leaves children agitated because of all the interactions involved. Playing alone, on the other hand, tends to make the little ones have more fun with their toys. Several traditional plays that are good for having fun alone develop concentration, such as playing with Barbie dollhouse can help to calm the child.
Before the child enters school, parents are his favorite playmates. When the guardians step back and show that it is also legal to play alone, the child understands that their guardians will not always be with them.
This is important when the little one starts attending school. Children who are more used to playing alone tend to cope better with new situations away from their parents and can feel more at ease in a new experience like school. For example, to encourage creativity among your children, you should give them something like the best Safe Sand for Sandbox.
Everyone deserves time for themselves, including moms and dads. Another advantage of teaching your child to play alone is that adults get a much-needed break. With that, parents will finally be able to do small tasks, such as removing their clothes from the machine or even brushing their teeth, without having to ask another adult to take care of their child in those minutes.
This is not the main objective, of course, but the time that parents spend alone is also a good example for children. The child can see that the mother or father likes to do the things they love on their own and that they don’t need someone else’s attention to do that.
All children are born with the ability and willingness to exercise their imagination. The little one creates real worlds when he or she plays with different toys including best dolls or something like riding on the best cars, where they are superheroes, monsters playing with monster dolls, aliens, and princesses.
In numerous ways, the society is slowly depriving children of such experiences. Especially privileging the time of educational and guided activities, usually directed by adults. So, here are a few tips to nurture independent play and the capability of your children to entertain themselves, with their imagination and creativity:
The basic rule of thumb is: passive toys encourage active play. This is defended by many education specialists and those who value the child’s autonomy and independence. When you expose children to toys that entertain them with the push of a button, the creative part of their brain is not fed.
Therefore, creativity develops less. In this sense, replacing technological toys such as tablets and screens with unique functions with objects, which can be used in numerous ways encourages problem-solving. Besides, it encourages kids to use their imaginations, leaving them free to control the game. An activity table can help in this regard as it helps your child to be creative.
Of course, technology is essential for 21st-century life, but the presence of screens can discourage active play. Especially when a TV is on in the background, or a video game is available right there.
So, it is a good idea to leave tablets and other devices for another time, in another location. Instead, if you have a daughter, you must allow them to play with dolls or dollhouses. Not only does this allow your children to avoid screens but also encourage them to be more social.
If the toys are too big or too complicated for your child to play alone, he will be asking for help. So when you come and help him, the idea that he can’t do it alone will be reinforced.
Make sure your child has access to toys appropriate for their age so that they can play independently. If you have a toddler, you can’t give him a big toy. On the other hand, a table and chair for your toddler are simple accessories to play with.