Simple Ideas for Adding More Playtime

Cut TV time and replace it with playtime.

Television sitcoms and movies have all but eliminated the self-initiated dramatic play that once mimicked the adult world. Give your child the time, the place, and the materials to engage in make-believe, express his or her individuality, and grow physically, emotionally, and mentally through play.

Make play-dates with children of a similar age

Let them initiate the kind of play they wish to engage in. Children of the same age love to play together. These children are at the same skill level and create a relationship of mutual authority. It's important for children to engage in play with their peers so that they can establish a sense of alliance that will grow as they do.

Avoid too many toys too often.

Toy play is one way that children nurture their disposition for imagination and fantasy—and these human potentials can only be fully developed through practice. But the sheer number of toys owned by the contemporary child weakens the power of playthings to engage children in dramatic thinking. When it comes to toys, less is more. Children are easily overwhelmed by the multitude of their playthings and will end up going from toy to toy without spending time on any one of them. Make sure the toys you buy encourage imaginative inspiration, not momentary amusement or distraction.

Watch out for over-scheduling.

These days, parents are too anxious for their children to succeed in an increasingly competitive global economy. Many parents regard play as a luxury that the contemporary child cannot afford. Make sure to leave some unscheduled, free time for your child each day. Allow him or her to choose the activity to fill that time and provide materials, like hand-me-down clothes, that encourage creative expression and imaginative play.

Explore the great outdoors.

For adults and children alike, nature can provide endless inspiration and delight. Take your kids to a park or on a hike. Encourage them to ask questions and engage with the world around them. Climbing a tree and playing games with plants and dirt are simple, fun, and important ways for your child to become acquainted with the natural world. Interacting with the natural world teaches children about sameness and difference, and about constancy across change. These concepts are an important preparation for constructing the basic units of math, reading, and science.

Some Games to Get You Started

Name that Tune

Players take turns humming or whistling a song. As soon as someone knows it, they shout out the title. If they guess correctly, they get to hum the next song.

Rainbow game

One person calls out a color and the other players see how many things they can find with that color.

I went to the grocery store

Someone says, “I went to the grocery store and bought something that begins with the letter ____.” The other players name items from the grocery store that begin with that letter, until the item is correctly guessed.

Going on a Picnic

The first player says, “I’m going on a picnic,” and picks something to eat such as a sandwich. The second player then repeats exactly what the first person said and adds his own item, such as ‘apples’ on the end of list. The game continues with each person reciting the whole list and adding one item at the end of the list, until the list becomes so long that a player cannot remember it all.

More Resources

American Academy of Pediatrics

National Institute for Play

Articles of Interest

AAP Report Stresses Play for Healthy Development
Clinical Report from the American Academy of Pediatrics

Zero to Three: Play
Read how parents can support their baby or toddler's learning and development through play.

Books

The Power of Play
by David Elkind, Ph.D.

Playful Parenting
by Lawrence J. Cohen

Play to Learn and Learn to Play
Susan Munzer