EP 220 Social Saturdays: The Benefits of Parent/Child Play & Tips for All Ages

Welcome to our first "Social Saturdays" episode on the "No Problem Parenting Podcast.

"What are the benefits of parent/child play, and how can you make it awesome for kids of all ages and for you the parent?"

A study in the Journal of Marriage and Family revealed that shared leisure activities, including play, are linked to greater satisfaction in family relationships. So, there's more to play than just about keeping kids busy or entertained.

Play Builds Curiosity, Trust, and Connection – If you are finding yourself yelling all the time, play is a great way to stop feeding the problems in your home with anger and frustration and setting the tone in your home to be more fun and joyful.  Kids don’t want you to yell, but if seeing you yell is the only excitement or animation they get from you, you might notice they are pushing your buttons to gain your attention even if it is negative attention. 

You are the leader of your home and can shift the tone in your home and today I’m going to give you some ideas for how to do that with infants to teens.

 When you actively engage in play with your children, whether it's peek-a-boo, building LEGO towers, constructing forts, or even pretending to be superheroes, you create a foundation of curiosity, trust, and connection that lasts a lifetime.

Check out my conversation with Curt Jordan from Kong Academy in EP 50.  Curt is one of the authors in our first book, NPP Raising your kiddos with more confidence and less fear.  His chapter is titled Let Kids Play Their Way and I’ve included a link in the show notes for more ideas on how a family can beat the winter blues.  Lots of fun adventure ideas that you can access right from your home! Have the Winter Blues? Check out Kong Academys

How a Family Can Beat the Winter Blues Adventures HERE

Play isn't just for the kiddos; it's a fantastic stress-buster for parents too. Even just 15 minutes of imaginative play can be a mini-vacation from the hustle and bustle of daily life. Play is an opportunity to let your guard down, be silly with your kids, no matter their age. Even teens can't resist a good laugh when mom or dad are being silly

Let’s be intentional about playing with our kids.  What if you looked forward to playtime with your kids as much as you look forward to hanging out with friends? Playtime, even with teens doesn't have to always mean going somewhere. There are plenty of activities you can do right at home.

Make playtime a non-negotiable in your schedule. It can become an anticipated moment of joy in your routine.  Again, Even if it's just 15 minutes, set your timer, fully engage with your kids during that time, and watch the magic unfold.

Glenn Lundy shared in EP 172 why we should Stop spending time with our family and invest the time instead.

Here are three tips to keep in mind:

1. Be Present and Engaged: Put away distractions and go all in, in the playtime experience with your child. Being present shows your child that you value and enjoy the time spent together.

2. Follow Their Lead: Allow your child to take the lead in play. Follow their interests and cues, even if it means stepping into their imaginative world. This encourages their creativity and strengthens the bond and connection between you and your child. Ask open-ended questions to learn more about their ideas and check your ego at the door.  Playtime is not about knowing more than your child, do your best to let your child know more than you so respond with questions like “I wonder if…..” instead of telling them why something they are doing won’t work.

3. Quality Over Quantity: It's not about the duration of playtime; it's about the quality of interaction. Even if you have limited time, make those moments count. Choose activities