It might seem like playing with your child is nothing more than a fun way to pass the time. Yes, you enjoy getting to be silly with them, but it’s easy to assume that playtime doesn’t represent anything more than momentary fun.
On the contrary, playtime is actually important for your child’s intellectual development. Additionally, it might be benefitting you in more ways than you realize! Playtime is practically a developmental necessity for children, and it’s good for adults, too. The next time you have the chance to play with your child, keep some of these perks in mind.
You Both Get to Relax
After a long day of work, you might feel like you’re too tired to play with your child. But you might be surprised by just how relaxing playtime can be. Remember, there are no rules, and all you really have to do is show some enthusiasm for your child’s interests.
You can allow yourself to unwind while playing with your child. While your child doesn’t have the same responsibilities that you do, they still benefit from unstructured time to simply play with you!
Expand Your Creativity
Playing with your child allows both of you to expand your creativity. Your child might want you to pretend to be a certain character, or they might want to play dress up. The two of you might end up acting out stories with stuffed animals, or your child might want you to read their favorite book.
Engaging in these playful, creative activities can help you expand your creativity, and your child will benefit in the same way. You don’t need to stop using your imagination as you get older!
Learn About Your Child’s Interests
Even very young children have their own unique interests. Your child will naturally want to share their interests with you! Maybe your child is enthusiastic about dinosaurs right now, or perhaps they love finger painting.
No matter what your child’s interests are, they don’t want to enjoy these activities all on their own—they want you to partake! Even if your child’s interests don’t necessarily overlap with yours, you can take this as an opportunity to learn a little more about the world.
Develop Key Life Skills
Playing isn’t just for leisure. In reality, play time gives your children the chance to develop essential life skills. For example, when you and your child spend time playing with toys, your child will learn all about the importance of sharing. Your child can even learn basic organizational skills. Naturally, you’ll also get to teach them about cleaning up and putting things back where they belong.
When you play with your child, they’ll also strengthen their communication skills. Furthermore, if you’re playing a game with set rules, they’ll learn the importance of sticking with the rules to ensure the game is fair and fun!
Enjoy Bonding Time
Finally, think of play time as bonding time. Your child will grow up before you know it, and soon enough, they’ll put their toys and games away. Childhood can fly by in a blink, and the time you spend playing with your children today are moments that you’ll cherish in the future.
Even if your child is too young to remember all the time you’ve spent playing together, know that it brings them joy today. One day, you’ll look back and feel grateful for the many hours you spent playing with your child.
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Do you feel like you don’t get enough play time with your child? Working with a therapist can help. Reach out to us to discuss your options for scheduling your first session for parent therapy.