The playtime your kids get, whether it be with you, their friends, or alone, is one of the most important components of their life, for many reasons, which we'll touch on. But many parents have some big misconceptions about imagination-based play and how it should be controlled or limited. This can have a severe effect on your child's development, so let's have a look at a few of the misunderstandings that some parents have.
2. Anytime Can be PlaytimePlaytime can do with a little bit of structure from time to time, but for the most part, it should be allowed to flow. Give them a chance to take over, make their own decisions, and do what they want. Of course, this is all within reason, but the whole point is to let them learn to think on their own.Look, these things are realities in our world�I wish with every molecule of my being that wasn't true, but it is. However, that being said, it is far less of a reality or risk than we have been led to believe. The media constantly bombards us with stories about the worst things that happen in the world, and we begin to think of them as commonplace, but it's far from the truth.There are many components in a playground backyard set. There are slides in different forms, such as the traditional, spiral and tube in a variety of heights. These become the training ground for children. Such activities provide kids an outlet for their endless quest for adventure while helping them develop balance and strength. There are also seesaws, swings, bars and beams that tickle children's imagination. Different levels of a set suggests an obstacle course, which children can appreciate for a little challenge.Another tendency many parents have is to control the outcome of their child's playing around. This happens a lot when the game is emphasized on creating something and the parent wants to make sure they get the right lesson out of the process. While the intentions behind this misconception are fair enough, usually it is ends up being a hindrance to a child's creativity.In the busy schedules of families these days, there is little time for play. We are even starting to see a trend of families who have to plan their playtime, a phenomenon called the "play date." While it's important to do that if it's the only way, parents should also embrace that every moment offers opportunities for playing.I remember when I was a kid, we'd play games on the road like each choosing a color of car, and then we'd count how many cars we saw with that color and whoever had the most won. It's light-hearted things like that, or a simple session of making faces at each other, that can make every situation playful.The truth is that playtime plays a huge role in cognitive, social, physical, and emotional development. What seems like a child messing around and wasting time is a crucial part of their life process at this stage.Another common misconception is the idea that adversarial-based play, where the type of violence you might have seen on low budget films from the late 80's comes into play, can create violent children, or at least violent adults later in life. This is a slippery slope parents have slid down.So a bit of perspective is in order. Use common sense, and teach your kids what to watch out for, but don't shelter them from the world. There will come a day when they have to step out the door and go live, and they'll be much better prepared for it if you teach them to take care of themselves young.In fact, violence is not as common as it once was in the past.1. Play is a Waste of TimeThe park, for instance, is not a Lifetime Original waiting to happen.
It's important to realize just how crucial the process of playing, imagining, and running around like a goofball is for your children, and make it a point to produce an environment where they are allowed to run free. It truly is an essential component to getting a healthy start in these beginning stages of their precious lives.
Author: James Druman
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