Baby Care

Posts Tagged ‘outdoors’

Play is natural, both for children and for adults. We never stop having a need to play; we just have other things to think about. And life tells us that, since these other things are serious, that therefore they are not games.

Suggest your child to «welcome to the sun» in the morning. Turn on a light and pleasant music. Lie down on the floor together with the baby. Then close your eyes. Ask your child to imagine the sky with white clouds and bright warm sun. Then try to imagine other beautiful and kind things, for example animals, or kids playing with the animals. This is such kind of a game that makes you closer with your kid.

Children learn to play primarily from their parents or other adults. Play often provides a training ground from which a child learns to develop skills that will be useful later in life. Although modern sports tend to have fixed rules, children generally prefer games that require less-specialized equipment, preparation, and playing area. Hopscotch, leapfrog, and marbles are particularly popular games, as are the various improvised games that involve running, chasing, and catching. Many games—primarily guessing games, quizzes, and games that test physical coordination—are played by children and adults together.

Share time together with your child; recognize what is most important; see the big picture. All of those other things you do, you do to spend time with your children; maybe you forgot that. Play helps a young mind grow. Every minute of play is a minute of rapt attention at learning something; if it’s not a new task or new information, it is learning that closeness and laughter are possible in this world.

Children crave time with parents.  It makes them feel special.  Parents are encouraged to find time to spend playing with their kids on a regular basis.  This should include one to one with each child and group time with all of the adults and kids in the home.  If you are a single parent or have an only child, occasionally invite family or friends over to play.

In pretend play, let the child develop the theme.  Get into their world.  Let them go with it.  Ask questions.  Play along.  Be silly along with them and have fun.  Avoid over-stimulation.  Know when it is time to stop.

Possible games:

• Play outdoors.  Throw balls.  Push kids on swings.  Make mud pies.  Go on a hike around the neighborhood.  Take a nature walk in your backyard.
• Play games – card games – board games – silly and wacky kids games.  Help them learn to take turns, how to win and how to lose.  Praise them.  Encourage them.  Laugh with them.
• Get involved in a craft project together.  Build a jigsaw puzzle as a family.  Bake cookies.  Paint a picture.
• Listen to music together.  Sing along.  Play rhythm instruments along with music.   Get out the guitar or keyboard and make music.
• Read a book together.  Ask questions.  Ask them to change the story or make up a new one.
• Watch a movie together.  Find out what they liked – how they felt.  Discover the child’s interests.  Comment on and discuss any bothersome content either words or actions.
• Play kid games like:  Follow the Leader – Guess What I Am? – Hide and Seek