Hi again!

I’m back today with an eye-opening parenting fact for y’all!

As parents, we do our absolute best to make time for our kids, to take care of them, and support them. 

In an ideal world, we would spend hours playing and connecting with them every day. 

But let’s be real. We don’t live in an ideal world. 

Work, bills, deadlines, chores, stress, worry,  and the chaos of managing them all pile up quickly. 

And often, playtime is the first thing that gets canceled or bumped off the list.

After all, it doesn’t come under “essential” activities for caregiving.

Sadly, this is HUGELY untrue. 

As parents, perhaps, the most common misconception we have about raising children is how we think about playtime.

Here is how Dr. Larry Cohen explains it in one Academy masterclass:

For us: Playtime is a luxury that we can afford to push to another day.

But, for children: Play is their language of communication and connection with people, and the world around them. It is how they process and make sense of how the world works and their place in it.

So when your child asks you to play with them, they aren’t just looking for entertainment and silly games... 

They’re really looking to connect with you.

They’re asking you to ‘fill their cup’, and give them some love. 

Now turning them away gently, a few times, will not affect them or your relationship. But if playtime is regularly getting bumped off your list, a disconnect can arise between you and your child.  

This isn’t to invalidate how busy our daily lives are as parents... 

It can often be a struggle to find even 5 minutes to sit down and just breathe on most days. So, making time for play can seem impossible! 

But Dr. Cohen says it’s still worth taking out a few minutes intentionally to play. In his own words:

“10 minutes of playtime with your kids, can save you 20 minutes of nagging later.”

It’s a shocker I know! But when you think about it, it starts to make sense.

When our kids feel loved, connected, and have their cup filled, they’re more willing to cooperate with you. They’re less likely to throw tantrums and get upset.

Make the time to play with your kids for a few days, and see the difference for yourself.

And of course, if you’re looking for ideas for simple games, don’t worry, we’ve got you covered! (with options for children of all ages!)

Download Your Day #5 Guide To Playful Parenting Here

Do let us know which game you and your child enjoyed the most.

Or if you have a special game that works wonders for you, let us know about that too! We love to hear all your inventive ideas! 🙂

Wishing you many giggles, cuddles, and moments of joy,
Sumitha

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P.S.: Can you believe we’re on part 5 of this series already? Oh, how time flies! If you’ve ever been judged for trying to be a ‘positive parent’... or been told you’re ’spoiling your child’ by being too gentle - don’t worry.

We’re popping in tomorrow with the final part of this mini-course, to bust those myths (and give you one final secret parenting revelation)! Look out for it!