Preschooler Parenting: Positive Playtime

Through play, your preschooler is learning about the world and themselves. Their playtime opens up important neural pathways in the brain, leading to their physical, emotional, cognitive, and social development. Learning through play begins when your child is a baby. Babies naturally want to explore their environment and discover their world, and that curiosity continues as they grow. In fact, the benefits of playtime continue to be an essential part of a child’s development beyond the preschool years and extend into adolescence.

Is playing with your child a key factor in their development? Experts say yes. There are many benefits of parent-child play. Playing with your child helps build a strong connection. While playing, your child learns to trust you and feel safe and seen. Different types of play help build additional skills. For example, dressing up and inventing imaginary worlds helps develop their creative imagination and dancing, running or playing outside develops gross motor skills, while arts and crafts can improve fine motor skills.

Playtime with your toddler also helps teach them moral values. Demonstrating trying hard, not giving up, being a good team player, and respect are all lessons you’re teaching every time you play. Playing together also shows children how to work together to accomplish common goals, like finishing tasks and completing a game. For example, if the game is to get a ball across a field, working together to accomplish that embodies teamwork. Show them that when they are having a difficult time, you’re there to help them and vice versa.

Playtime Ideas You Can Both Enjoy

Here are some ideas for engaging in productive playtime with your toddler:

1.     Nature play

Taking a walk outside with your child is one of the nicest ways to spend playtime on a good weather day. Take them to a nearby park or an area near your home and have a scavenger hunt. Pick three items that are easily reachable and in sight, like a pine cone, a leaf and a rock and let them discover these new items on their own. Collect items and share what's unique or exciting about them.

Another outdoor idea is water play. If it’s not too cold, set up small, shallow buckets of water and provide a soup ladle, spoons or even cups and transfer the water from one bucket to another. Make it a race to see who can get all the water into another bucket. Let them enjoy the sensory play of water and splash and get a little wet. Keep dry clothes accessible.

2.     Storytime play

Creating characters and stories for your child to immerse themselves in – with you in their magical world with them – is an incredible bonding experience. Act out a scene from a favorite story with them. Or create a new story by creating characters with new names.

This is an ideal time for dress-up and make-believe play. The dress-up items can be simple, and a few small things like a colorful hat, a robe or even an old Halloween costume can transform them into anything their mind can create. Let them guide you on their magical journey in a new land.

3.     Physical play

Racing, skipping, hopping, ball play, and swinging on a swing… are all examples of physical play that help toddlers build better motor and movement skills. A planned trip to the park isn’t always part of the schedule, and it doesn't have to be.

 Go outside or even play in your living room. Jumping jacks, marching in place, or playing freeze dance can help your child move and have fun while being active. Tossing a balloon in the air and playing keep-it-up is another fun, physical activity toddlers enjoy.

Keep It Simple

Remember, playtime can be as structured and unstructured as needed. Toddlers enjoy five minutes of play with a parent as much as they do 20 minutes. When you're playing, make sure to tune into their minds and let the play take a different course if they lose interest.

Playtime with your toddlers is a time for fun and silliness but also an opportunity to teach patience, taking turns and problem-solving. Try and build active playtime into your routine with your toddler as much as possible. They will reap the rewards of the one-on-one interaction with you.