How Playgrounds Help Children Learn About Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
December 16, 2021Let Kids Take Risks
February 22, 2022It’s that time of year – the time of year when we’re all thinking about our New Year’s resolutions. This year, maybe you’re thinking about setting the goal of getting up an hour earlier with the kids to avoid rushing around before school. Perhaps you’re hoping to squeeze in a walk or workout after work and before getting dinner on the table. No matter what your New Year’s resolution this year, we’re here to ask you to consider adding one more to your list.
Contrary to popular belief, play isn’t just for kids. It’s just as important for adults to take time to play, too, especially when the stress of work and life can really take a toll on mental and physical health. And when children and adults can play together – well, that’s when magic happens. According to our most recent Voice of Play survey, more than half of the parents surveyed say they are playing together with their family now more than before the pandemic. That’s really great news for everyone.
Photo Credit: Unsplash
If you’re still looking for a resolution to add to your list in 2022, look no further. Here are three reasons to make playing together with your kids a priority this year.
1. Children Benefit from Adults
Where do we begin? We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again–children are sponges. From improved language development to heightened emotional stability, children flourish when they feel loved, supported, and seen. One of the best ways to do that is through taking the time to play with them.
When children and adults – including older adults, like grandparents – are given the chance to regularly interact and play together, children soak up language from stories and conversations that are unique to the ones they have with their peers. Intergenerational play can also help children understand more about the real world through parents’ and grandparents’ perspectives and experiences.
2. …and Adults Benefit from Children
Over time, it’s common – expected, even – for adults to lose some of that playfulness, glee and curiosity that they once had as children. We’d argue, though, that playfulness is just as important in adulthood as it is throughout childhood, which makes intergenerational play even more vital. When adults and children play together, adults see the world through a child’s eyes once again – they get the chance to experience those feelings of curiosity (I wonder why that tree is shaped like that?), glee (I feel so happy when I take the time to enjoy the sun and cool breeze on my face) and playfulness (Let’s go outside and jump in rain puddles!). They get the chance to experience childhood from a completely different and new perspective as an adult.
3. Together, the Family Connection is Strengthened
Today, it can be so easy to get caught up in the busyness of work, the endless shuffle between extracurricular activities and after-school sports, and playdates that we forget to pause and make time together a priority. However, with that can come the risk of splintering relationships, fracturing connections, or distorting trust with our loved ones.
Playing together as a family can often bridge that gap, reopening the lines of communication, offering a break from the worries, stress, and burdens of day-to-day life. In fact, 67 percent of parents agreed that playing together as a family improves connection, according to the Voice of Play survey.
If you’re looking for simple ways to incorporate play into your family’s daily routine, here are couple of ideas to get you started:
- START SMALL: It’s okay to start small – it’s just important to start. If you’re a busy family struggling to incorporate play into your routine, try to think about ways to infuse it into what you already do every day. For example, make a game out of cleaning up the dishes after dinner or swap out evening screen time for a family board game.
- GET EXPLORING: Get outside and explore – even if the weather isn’t perfect! After a rainstorm, for example, can be a great time to explore cool critters and fun bugs with your little ones. Collect a collage of beautiful leaves during a hike in the fall, or head out to a remote area to look at the stars during a warm summer night. There’s so much to see – and the look on your child’s face when they get to experience it will be well worth it.
- DO DINNER: Everybody has to eat, right? Why not take some time to do it together. Schedules are hectic, especially when you have littles ones in school and activities, but the dinner table can be a great place to check in with your children and take time to focus on each other. We promise, funny stories, laughter and smiles are sure to follow.
