Again.

Again!

Again!!!

Babies and toddlers love, love, love their playtime. And they very often love to engage in the very same kind of play - time and again. This can be fun for you… but sad to say, it can also easily turn into a boring routine. After all, play is the child’s “work.” You likely don’t also ask them to pay the bills, empty and load the dishwasher or vacuum the guest room because Grandma’s coming.  Of course, you may very well like to sit on the floor and play peek-a-boo until the cows come home… but the dishwasher and Grandma and all of that.

So why should you make the time for play with young children? And what are the best ways to transition out of play when your other duties call?

First off, when a child is very young, you are their first and favorite playmate. Playtime builds your warm relationship with the child and helps them develop social skills (sharing and turn-taking), language skills (labeling objects and making requests) and cognitive skills (especially around problem-solving). Not only that, but playtime also helps children learn about cause and effect and begin to use their lovely little imaginations.

So playtime rocks. And it’s a super-important (and truth be told, usually a super-fun) part of your work, too.

It’s largely because of the connection between play and development that a child will often want to repeat the same kind of play again and again. What might be boring for you can be a way for the child to practice and eventually master a new skill… like finding a hidden object or picking up and holding a toy or reading your face for hints as to where that hidden object might be. Young children are learning machines, and they learn by practice. The more they practice, the more skills they learn… and the more confidence they gain to try and learn even more skills.

But sometimes there does need to be an end to things.

So when Junior still wants to play “hide the blocks,” come back to that business about you still being Mr. or Ms. Favorite Playmate - “You know what? This is our last turn and then I have to make dinner. Why don’t you bring the blocks into the kitchen and play with them while I cook? That way, we can still be together!”

Again.

Again!

Again!!!

Babies and toddlers love, love, love their playtime. And they very often love to engage in the very same kind of play - time and again. This can be fun for you… but sad to say, it can also easily turn into a boring routine. After all, play is the child’s “work.” You likely don’t also ask them to pay the bills, empty and load the dishwasher or vacuum the guest room because Grandma’s coming.  Of course, you may very well like to sit on the floor and play peek-a-boo until the cows come home… but the dishwasher and Grandma and all of that.

So why should you make the time for play with young children? And what are the best ways to transition out of play when your other duties call?

First off, when a child is very young, you are their first and favorite playmate. Playtime builds your warm relationship with the child and helps them develop social skills (sharing and turn-taking), language skills (labeling objects and making requests) and cognitive skills (especially around problem-solving). Not only that, but playtime also helps children learn about cause and effect and begin to use their lovely little imaginations.

So playtime rocks. And it’s a super-important (and truth be told, usually a super-fun) part of your work, too.

It’s largely because of the connection between play and development that a child will often want to repeat the same kind of play again and again. What might be boring for you can be a way for the child to practice and eventually master a new skill… like finding a hidden object or picking up and holding a toy or reading your face for hints as to where that hidden object might be. Young children are learning machines, and they learn by practice. The more they practice, the more skills they learn… and the more confidence they gain to try and learn even more skills.

But sometimes there does need to be an end to things.

So when Junior still wants to play “hide the blocks,” come back to that business about you still being Mr. or Ms. Favorite Playmate - “You know what? This is our last turn and then I have to make dinner. Why don’t you bring the blocks into the kitchen and play with them while I cook? That way, we can still be together!”