Going grocery shopping with my kids always ends up being a nightmare. Historically, I’ll have two kids running up and down the isles playing tag and screaming while the third one is walking next to me nagging about all the different things she wants. Due to me struggling to keep them close and avoiding them
We’ve all read research and articles promoting play, but play is more than independent play or playing with siblings or friends. For sure, kids benefit from those ways to play, but playing with parents and caregivers gives additional benefits. Kids feel special and seen when parents play with them. They can use these times to
My partner’s son has to do one hour of eye exercises each night. Needless to say they are the last thing he wants to do. To give my partner a break from the limit setting and listening that followed I told him I would do the exercises with his son instead. When I approached his
Playlistening is an invaluable tool that helps a child through situations they feel powerless about, scared feelings and blocked fears. It usually works when there is some roleplay involved, like this story about a girl who was scared of hairwashing, or this story, where playlistening helped with whining. In Playlistening, an element of roleplay helps
In his book, Playful Parenting, Lawrence Cohen says, “Play can be the long-sought bridge back to that deep emotional bond between parent and child.” Play invites adults into a child’s world, on their terms, and the giggles and laughter that follow releases tension, and helps barriers fall away. Bonding Through Play Sushila Hart, a nanny
Children’s playful giggles and laughter can soon boil over and frenzied excitement erupts into power struggles, arguments and aggression. So how can you step in safely to diffuse a play situation headed south? Hand in Hand’s Heidi Grainger Russell explains how a burst of spontaneous Playlistening saved a recent play session from turning sour. What would you do?