Play = Connection
Follow the laughter * Be Silly * Have fun
Cut them out, put in a jar and pull them out at random or post them on your fridge.
Tips:
Not time for corrections. (It’s ok if 5+2=3)
If they don’t want to play, don’t push it.
Make sure you are not coming off as condescending.
Don’t push certain play over others.
Don’t have an agenda. If nothing else it will be a connecting experience for your kiddo.
Sprinkle Mornings with Play Ideas
Goal: To wake your kiddo up with connection. Let them ease into their day. Attune to their mood and the moment. (Don’t push play when they are too tired or not in the mood.)
Getting Dressed
- Your kiddo’s stuffies get dressed in your kiddo’s clothes
- “Ok, I guess it's time to get you dressed.” Begin putting your kiddos clothes on. The sillier the better.
- “No, don't wear that shirt! I want to wear that today!” Maybe even run away with it into another room.
Throughout Morning
- A quick game of chase “Do you know what happens to kids who won’t … They get chased by a big hairy scary monster.”
- “Do you know what happens to kids who won’t … they get the tornado of doom!!” Pick them up and spin them around. Toss them on a bed.
- Fight with their stuffie over eating breakfast with your kiddo, going to school with them, etc.
Shoes & Socks On
- Have a sock fight. (Don’t worry, you can keep it super quick.)
- Try to put their shoes on instead of your own
Saying goodbye
- Count all their hairs, moles, fingers and toes before they go to school and count them when you see them again in the afternoon to make sure everything is still there. “You are missing 5 hairs!!! I’m calling the school. We have to search the playground” Silly, silly silly.
- Draw a heart on their hand and they can squeeze it anytime they miss you
- Tell the story of the invisible string that is connected from your heart to theirs. (This is an actual book you can buy.) The string keeps you connected all day no matter how far apart you are.
- If you drive - get in their seat instead of yours and say. “Ok, I’m ready. Let’s go.”
Wake Up with Connection Ideas
Goal: To wake your kiddo up with connection. Let them ease into their day. Attune to their mood and the moment. (Don’t push play when they are too tired or not in the mood.)
Ideas
- Wake kiddo up with stuffies, “Charlie, is so happy you are awake.”
- As the stuffie, “Yay, you are awake. I’ve been waiting for you to wake up all night.
“Can I go to school with you?
- Backrub
- Draw on their back - They can try to guess what you are drawing.
- Play soft music
- Turn on soft lights
Proactive Play Ideas
Goal: Your kiddo gets to play out different scenarios that may be causing them stress. They get to be the one who knows what’s going on. They get to help you. You are silly, incompetent, a buffoon.
Laughter off loads stress response in the body. Kiddos being in charge is empowering.
Struggles with school
- Play teacher, take turns - you don’t know what you are doing, you need lots of help as student or teacher
- Play recess - social relationship stress - they can be in charge of what you play, they can exclude “pretend people” like they might experience
- Play dolls being at recess - let your kiddo lead the play
School Work Stress
- Tear up play workbook pages because you cannot figure it out, throw them down, pretend to cry, pretend to run out of the room (Do what you think your kiddo might want to do but would never do at school. They can play it out at home where it is safe and they will not get in trouble.)
Separation Anxiety
- Pretend to do school drop offs (take turns playing different rolls, parent, teacher, child)
- Count hairs, fingers, toes, etc. when they leave, count again to ensure all is still intact when you pick them up
- Go to school over weekend, play on play ground, create positive connected experiences at the school
Tired / Hard to Wake Up
- Pretend to be a bear that your kiddos try to wake up, takes awhile then you come to life and playfully chase them
- Pretend to go to bed, take turns as parent and child going through bedtime routine - add silliness where you can, be an animal, etc.
- Pretend to get ready in the morning, take turns as parent and child going through morning routine - add silliness where you can, be an animal, etc.
More Ideas - Keep it short and manageable. (5-15min)
Start a gratitude jar - Decorate it together, then write one gratitude each night. Watch the jar fill.
Share something you love with your child—baking, puzzles, drawing, writing
Outdoor activities (offer 2-3, Let your child choose) (basketball, nature walk, baseball)
Collect leaves - If your child is quiet or shut down, take a short walk outside together and collect leaves (or whatever is interesting to them). You give them a leaf and ask them to share one thing about their day. Take turns.
Spontaneous game of chase - around the kitchen (Out of nowhere you are a big, hairy, scary, silly monster and you are going to get your kiddos)
Silly - Walk around with something silly on your head like underwear and pretend you don’t know what their giggles and pointing are about
Stuffies - Use a favorite stuffy to snuggle their neck. The stuffy says, “Take me to school. I’ll miss you too much.” Or “I'm so glad you're home. I was so bored without you all day.”
Trash day - Toss them on the bed a few times. “Oops! It is trash day and I forgot to take out the trash. Is this a bag of trash?” as you are holding your child.
Clumsy - Pretend you lost your mind and start running into things. “Ouch Who put that wall there.”
Toss a towel their way - (making sure it does not hurt) and say “Opps I lost control of the towel there for a second.” If they roll their eyes, you’re on the right track.
Low Energy Games
Draw on their back - Draw or write words on their back and they have to guess what you are drawing
Mouse - Pretend your hand is a mouse and run it over their head, arms and neck “Oh a mouse got into the house!”
Cracked eggs - Pretend to crack eggs on their head and have the ooey gooey go down their back.
Balloons - Sitting, standing or lying down - try to keep a balloon in the air together
Pretend Painting - Pretend to paint them with sparkly paint.
Why Play?
Play has many benefits for children, parents and your relationship. Below are just a few.
- Playful moments bring connection
- Play helps parents attune to their child by getting to meet them in their world
- Play helps kids work out upsets and difficult emotions
- Play helps kids offload stress
- Play in bonding