Parents can help playtime to be enjoyable, productive and safe.  Here are a few suggestions on how to help your child at play:

Provide a child centered play area:

• Make sure it is childproof and clean
• Avoid over-stimulation – especially for babies
• Allow children to leave constructions up for awhile so they come back and engage in new adventures in the world they created
• Store play items safely but make them easily accessible

Provide toys with play value that:

• Can be used in many ways
  
• Allow children to determine the play
• Appeal to children at more than one age or level of development
• Can be used with other toys for new and more complete play
• Will stand the test of time and continue to be part of play as develop new interest and skills
• Help children develop skills important for further learning and a sense of mastery

Encourage a balance in play activities:

• Reduce or eliminate screen time (1 or 2 hours per day max)
• Encourage outdoor play that uses large muscles – running, jumping, climbing and playing games is cool
• Curtail time spent in adult-organized activities – kid directed play is important
• Don’t allow your child to become over-scheduled – self directed play should be encouraged
• Encourage new activities such as art, music, building or science – you make the introduction then let them on their own (some will make a hit others won’t and that’s OK)
• How about letting them work? – kids enjoy helping in the kitchen and in the yard – give younger children junior sized appliances, tools and equipment so they can “work” beside you.

next: Playing With Your Child