21 Aug 5 Tips for Everyday Play
Parents are always looking for more time, so how can they incorporate everyday play into their day? When I was a child, I often remember my mother sending me off to “go play” while she completed household chores. Sometimes it was alone since my sister and brother were a couple years older. Unfortunately, they did not always appreciate how cute I was. Hence, my dog was often my playmate.
What Can We Do to Make It Better?
Humans as well as countless other species have an innate sense of community. We are often led not by one dominating leader but by the majority. This very idea was expressed in a movie entitled I AM. It is a nonfiction film that poses two practical and provocative questions. 1) What’s wrong with our world? 2) What can we do to make it better? In the film, one individual stated, “We focus better in a state of love, empathy, and compassion than in a state of separation.”
Play Together
As I heard those words, I realized that occupational therapists work with children in this way. We do not give a child a toy and walk away. Nor do we give them a project and leave the room to watch behind a glass window. There are times when we may set a child up with a task and allow them to work independently. At some point, however, we engage with them and provide them with assistance and encouragement.
Tips & Topics
As busy as parents are from day to day, they need to remember that a child may not want to be separated from them. In this week’s video you will learn a few simple ideas to add everyday play to your day without using traditional toys. Discover how you to turn the daily living tasks in your home into playful activities you can do with your child. Watch this week’s video of Tips & Topics to learn more and share your thoughts in the comments section.
Amy Baez, MOT, OTR/L
Amy Baez is the Founder of Playapy and Creator of the PALS Handwriting Program. She is a pediatric occupational therapist, play advocate, and parent coach with over 17 years of experience. Learn more at www.playapy.com.