Encouraging Play

I had this pre-motherhood idea that kids instinctively know how to play. Give them some blocks and they'll know that they're supposed to stack it. Cars are for rolling around and bears are for hugging.

I'm realizing that, among the many things kids need to be taught, they need to be shown how to play. Specifically, how to play with specific items. In addition to saying that it's play time, I've had to get down on the floor with my son numerous times to show him what exactly he can do with his toys.

For example, he has a set of Tiny Tuff cars with ramps that have to be assembled. I realize he doesn't yet have the capacity to assemble it by himself. But even after assembly is complete and in order to encourage him to play, I've had to show him that he can roll the cars up and down the ramps. Afterwards, he's usually happy to play by himself.

In a daycare setting, this type of interaction between a child and a caregiver is not particularly necessary to encourage play time. Kids learn mostly by the examples of other kids. For stay-at-home parents, we are the examples for everything, including playing.

Maybe this is why some kids prefer to plop in front of the TV than to play with their toys. Is it possible that they simply don't know what to do with toy cars, wagons and blocks? Encouraging them to explore and use their imagination takes some awareness and effort. Let's show our kids how to have fun!