Helping Parents Be Playful

09/04/2006

Teachers teach because they care. Teaching young people is what they do best. It requires long hours, patience, and care.
Horace Mann

On the home page of our web site, www.ChildCareExchange.com, is an article from the January 2006 issue of Exchange by Edgar Klugman and Susan Oliver, "Helping Parents Stay Confident in Their Own Playful Instincts" In the article they pose the question, "What can you do to 'inoculate' parents against ceding the territory of play to professionals?" and respond (in part)...

"As early care and education professionals, we have a wide repertoire of things to do with children, based on our knowledge about how to set up the early childhood learning environment, how to facilitate play, and when to step back and let children manage a play situation on their own. Most parents do not have this level of training or experience. Moreover, they face many demands every day, and when they come home from work, their day is rarely finished. As if a day of handling on-the-job stresses is not enough, coming home means facing dinner, laundry, chores, bills, and sometimes tired or crabby kids. Creating a playful evening and home environment may not be their top priority — and indeed, it may appear attractive to let play be the bailiwick of professionals.

"You can help by keeping it simple, offering ideas that solve problems and can realistically be implemented, constantly reinforcing the fun and positive role of play, and reminding parents they are good at it — naturally. For example:

"Proclaim the message early and often. Throughout the year, reinforce the idea that there is no substitute for parent involvement in play, and that good play generally comes naturally to kids and families. You can include this message in open houses, newsletters, on your web site, in parent conferences, at pick-up and delivery time, on parent bulletin boards, and more....

"Help them remember what childhood fun was like. Most parents can retrieve memories of their own play as young children. This is a rich source that can be transformed into expanding a parent’s repertoire about play, and children love to hear about their parents’ favorite activities and toys. Encourage them to remember and use their memories to bring simple play ideas into their home today. Was it hide-and-go seek? Riding in the wagon down an incline? Building with sticks and stones in the backyard? Looking out the window, and watching the birds, the cars, and the people passing by? Remind parents that play does not need to be complicated or use fancy toys or kits to be fun and rewarding....

"Remind parents about the basics. Kids like to be with mom and dad. Find a job to let them help with making dinner. Let them pull out pots and pans to keep themselves occupied while you cook — no need for fancy toys. Let parents know that the plain cardboard box was just added to the National Toy Hall of Fame, a place where classic toys most beloved to children are honored and memorialized."

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