Maybe you already know how important playtime is for your child: Whether they’re in the backyard or playing with toys in the living room, they love nothing more than having plenty of free time to use their imagination. But how often are you able to spend time playing with your child?
Play is essential for children, and playing with your child is beneficial for parents, too!
When you play with your child, you don’t have to follow any rules or step into a teaching role. Instead, you can both allow yourselves to just be — and that’s why it’s so rewarding for your relationship.
Here’s why playing with your child can improve your relationship.
Foster Your Child’s Imagination
Perhaps you child is already in school, and they spend lots of time following the rules in the classroom and completing assignments. But they don’t always get to explore their creative side and let their imagination roam free.
However, when you play with your child, they do not have to follow a rigid set of rules. Instead, they can enjoy a sense of freedom, and so can you! When you and your child play, you’re not focused on working or running errands. It’s a chance for both of you to make the most of your time together.
Encourage Your Child to Develop New Skills
While playing with your child, you don’t need to consciously make an effort to teach them new skills. But when the two of you play together, they will naturally work on certain skills.
For instance, they might express new ideas to you, which helps them improve their communication and language skills. You’ll need to share, which allows them to practice their social skills. And this also gives your child a chance to work on their fine motor skills.
Opportunity to Relax
When your child is old enough to go to school, they may occasionally feel stressed. And even before they enter school, your family might have some busy, chaotic days that leave them feeling tired and overwhelmed.
Sometimes, playing together can alleviate these feelings and give your child the space they need to express themselves. And after a long day of working, taking care of domestic obligations, and helping others, playing with your child without worrying about schedules might be just what you need.
Deepen the Trust Between You
Playing with your child gives them the chance to express their ideas to you. As your child grows up, they might find the world isn’t always receptive to their imagination or creative ideas. But when you play together, you ensure that they have a safe space where they can share what’s on their mind.
You can demonstrate to your child that they are always free to share their thoughts with you, and that you won’t judge them. This deepens the trust between you and your child - they know you will have their back.
Learn More About Your Child
Finally, playing with your child is simply one way to learn even more about them. Even if you have a very young child who hasn’t started to talk yet, you might get to know another side of their personality. And through play, you can take notice of your child’s milestones.
One day, you might find that their vocabulary is larger than you thought. Another day, you might realize that they’ve started to clean up after themselves. There’s no end to what you can learn about your child through play!
Are you hoping to strengthen your relationship with your child? Working with a therapist can help. Reach out to us today to discuss your options for scheduling you first session.