I don’t need to play Paw PAtrol with my kid.
Let your kid play solo.
I don’t want to be Marshall from Paw Patrol and crawl around the floor barking.
No thank you.
That type of play is torturous to me LOL. I’m totally checked out. And guess what my kid is better of for it when I don’t join in with his play 100% of the time!
Do I love to play ?! YES
Crocheting
Playing my guitar
Swimming, Dancing, Walking
Painting & Doodling for no reason but it feels nice.
But What about my kid?
But can I do these things while my kid is in the room?!! Sounds like a benefit to me ...but what about for my kid?!
Well guess what!!!??
Letting your kid play by themselves, uninterrupted is great for their brains and overall development. I’m talking all the buzz words here ( with research to back it)
Independent PLay needs to be guilt free
What good can come from Independent PLay?
Builds Creativity, Imagination, and Self-Regulation
Develops Problem-Solving Skills
Encourages Autonomy & Confidence
And sOOO Much more…but let’s keep it simple.
Play is everything!
How can play do all this?
Well...PLAY IS EVERYTHING.
Think abut it as an adult. Can you find a time when you’re experimenting ... Cooking perhaps?
What happens when adults try new things?
Let’s pretend you’re trying a new recipe and you’ve decided to improvise an VOILA you’ve discovered- after a few failed attempts and pots over flowing that adding a bit of starchy water to your gravy makes for one hell of a flavour explosion.
no one likes to be micromanaged.
Now imagine instead of being given the time and space to just try it out for yourself....
You’re cooking Thanksgivng dinner!
A well meaning family member sees your pot and random ingredients and they tell you you should make the gravy with the clubhouse pack don’t add anything else.
When you over flow the pot, she steps in and says here let me help me you..... and continues to finish the meal as you stand there and pass her the ingredients that she requests....
There goes your confidence.
Do you think you’d feel confident?
Inspired to try another new recipe?
OR
Will you maybe automatically ask your mom for help the next time you’re making a big holiday meal cause after all, you “needed” her help last time.
If you’re never given the opportunity to just go at it alone- will you feel confident?
Step Back. LEt them do their own thing.
In the context of a child playing this could look like ...
Your kid is building a tower- you’re a grownup and can clearly see that the way they are building
Their tower is going to fall....
So not wanting them to feel bummed out when there tower falls over you simply tell them...
“Add more blocks to your base. It’s not stable.”
WEll Meaning, but not helpful.
This is a well meaning comment of course.
You’re just trying to help after all.
BUT when you tell them how to fix the problem you’re taking away an opportunity for them to figure it out on their own...and the more we let them figure it out and fail the more we will see
growth in areas like
Problem Solving
Self Regulation
Creativity
Autonomy
Confidence
You don’t need to give instructions.
Are you trying to read or get a house task done and your kiddo tell you they’re bored...
Try this!
“I get bored too. I’m just working on...
(insert what you’re doing )
I wonder what you’ll do next!”
put away the guilt.
So this long winded post is to say....It’s good for our kids to play solo !
We don’t have to play with them all the time!
We can parallel play while they play!
So grab those crochet hooks or a watercolour tray and start creating your way.
Let your kid play their way.
You’ll both be better for it.