Playing with children is crucial at any age. Playing with small children is very different from playing with teenagers and requires a dedicated set of strategies. Women are usually much better with smaller children than men, yet everybody can learn and improve. In this guest article, Becky Holton shares her tips and strategies.
As the popular saying goes, Work without play makes Jack a dull boy. Play is crucial for the growth and development of children. Studies have shown that children who don’t play regularly usually rank lower in class and compared to children who play.
Play is not only important for physical health but also mental health. Playing will help your child learn more about his or her environment and the world as a whole. Since parents spend most of their time with young children, they need to take them out regularly.
According to the best paper writing service, playing with your child will help you understand him or her better and make the relationship stronger. When your child gets your undivided attention, he or she will grow into a confident and positive human being.
Today, we are going to discuss the six proven steps for playing with young children. After reading this article, you won’t find yourself stuck wondering what to do while playing with your child. Keep reading.
Defining play
Play is any activity that your child enjoys doing. For instance, building blocks is one of the games toddlers enjoy playing. As your child grows older, he or she will stop building blocks and start playing football or board games.
1. Let your child choose
The best thing you can do for your child is to let him or her choose the game she’d like to engage in. You can hand him or her a toy or a board game to name a few. There is no right choice or wrong choice. Looking at your child’s choice will help you know what he or she loves.
2. Slow but sure
There are lots of toys for toddlers. If you have a variety of toys at home, you may have to show your child how to play with them. If he or she wants to play with a specific toy, hand it over to them.
As essay writing service recommends, you should encourage your child to play with his or her toy independently. This will help them develop and improve their skills.
3. Read the signs
Since children can’t speak fluently, they’ll express themselves through body language. When your child is tired of playing, he or she will use his or her facial expression, hands and other gesture to communicate with you.
You should be keen on your child’s behavior while playing. Understanding these signals will make it easier for your child to play.
4. Organize the play area
The last thing you want to do is to get your child hurt. You should organize the play area by eliminating clutter and other dangerous tools that could hurt your child. You should always be close to your child while he or she is playing to help him or her out and avoid accidents.
A research conducted by essay writing service found out that the majority of children get injured as a result of the parent’s negligence. Organizing the play area according to the game your child wants to play will help you avoid unnecessary injuries.
5. Repetition is key
Repeating the same games for a while will not be fun for your child. However, he or she will learn how to play the games better without your assistance. Your child needs to learn that he or she can do things without your help.
Assignment writing service uk reports that children who are brought up like this eventually become confident and joyful human beings because they don’t need to rely on other people to get things done. The more your child practices the same games, the quicker he or she learns and develops new skills.
The development of new skills leads to new challenges and outcomes. Repetition is key to success not only in playing but also in all aspects of life.
6. Creativity works like magic
A child with special needs cannot be treated like any other child because he or she might find it challenging to play. However, this does not mean that you should stop him or her from playing and other fun activities.
You just need to be creative. Your child will quickly adapt to his or her environment. Here are some of the best ways to get creative:
- Eliminate distractions – There are tons of distractions in our environment at any one time. They include light, animals, noise, and toys that are not in use to name a few. If your child shows signs of distress while playing, you should move to a less populated or quieter place.
- Be keen on response – Like other children, children with special needs react differently in new situations. They can be stimulated or receptive. That’s why it’s important to introduce new toys or playing activities gradually. You should pay attention to your child’s reaction when playing different games. Understanding your child’s reactions will help you make accurate predictions on how they are going to react to new toys and other objects.
- Your child’s reaction to smells, tastes, and textures – What does your child love to smell or touch? Your child might enjoy holding specific things and avoid others. Reading their body language will help you figure out what they love and create the ideal play environment.
- Involve friends – According to Essayhave, children with special needs need to socialize with their peers to grow and develop physically and mentally. Encouraging your child to develop relationships with other children and adults will help him or her develop his or her social skills, conflict resolution, and empathy to name a few.
- Reward your child – When your child learns something new, you should always reward him or her. You can buy him or her another toy or feed him or her what he or she loves. Rewarding your child will motivate him or her to learn new things quickly.
Conclusion
Play is an integral part of a child’s growth and development. Children who don’t like playing do not usually do well in other activities. It’s important to encourage your child to play. If he or she does not like playing, you should consider playing with him or her. With the tips discussed above, you should not have a problem while playing with your child.
