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Playing
with your Child
Play is important
"All work and no play makes Jack
a dull boy" is probably one of the most tired truisms in the English language.
However, the truth of this adage hasn't worn off with repeated use. The
fact remains that play plays an important role in the development of a
child.
Today, babies are part of the rat
race almost from the day they are born. Parents rush to register their
babies in "good" schools at birth. Parents think of college funds and ponder
on the future achievements of their children while their babies are still
in the cradle. There is great pressure on today's children to achieve and
perform even before they have joined kindergarten. Sometimes in the anxiety
that their child will 'miss the bus', parents tend to forget that childhood
is a special time when the child should look forward to the next day eagerly,
without a care in the world.
Children discover
the world through Play
Young children seem to want to play
all the time. Parents who think that their children should stop "goofing
off" and focus on getting on in the world, should remember that play is
a means of learning for children. Children discover the world through play.
Fancy toys are often wasted on children at this stage. Children have vivid
imaginations so that the simplest objects can endlessly fascinate them.
For instance, a cardboard carton could represent a bed, a house, a castle,
etc.
Around the age of two, children love
to mimic the actions of their parents and other members of the household.
Children will attempt to shave, wash dishes, sweep the floor, and so on.
Building blocks give free rein to the child's creativity at this age.
Parents should remember not to apply
adult rules and regulations to the games that they play with their children.
If your daughter wants to dress her doll in mismatched clothes or wants
to colour the sky red, let her. The child should be allowed to play at
the level of her maturity, not yours. If she is to be corrected and instructed
in the 'right' way to play with toys, she will lose confidence and interest
in playing. Parents often tend to buy toys that they find interesting.
These may be too complicated for the child.
Children have
to be taught sharing
Children are not naturally altruistic.
They have to be taught to share. If another child tries to take away your
two year old's favourite toy, she will probably react by crying, throwing
a tantrum or may be even hitting the other child. This is quite normal.
However, if your child looks like she could hurt the other child, draw
her attention elsewhere. Reprimanding your child at this stage will only
make her more aggressive as she will be unable to understand why you are
making her give away something that belongs to her. Sharing is too advanced
a concept at this stage.
If your child tends to grab things
from a smaller or weaker child, separate them till your child has learnt
to share. If your child is always the grabber, never the 'grabbee', it
may help to make her play with slightly older children who will stand up
for themselves and put her in her place. If by the age of three, your child
is still aggressive it is a good idea to find out if there is something
bothering her. In the beginning, children do not really care about other
children. As they grow older, they develop a feeling of attachment to other
children and they will voluntarily exhibit generosity. Parents can offer
some guidance by explaining that the children should take turns playing
with a treasured toy.
Subconscious actions
can limit horizons
Parents subconsciously discriminate
between daughters and sons from a very young age. Girls are gifted with
dolls whereas there seems to be some unspoken rule that only boys can play
with cars and toy soldiers. Girls are supposed to be too delicate to climb
trees or play rough games. Household chores are considered to be a part
of the female domain. Therefore boys escape this routine. Parents who bring
up their children with the idea that there are certain appropriate behaviours
and activities for either sex are limiting their children's horizons and
perpetuating gender bias and the idea that females are the weaker sex with
limited capabilities.
Select the right
toys
Parents should select toys that require
the child to sit still for a longer period of time. They should select
toys that require greater sensory involvement, toys that require the use
of touch, sight and hearing. The greater the sensory involvement, the greater
the learning. Video games, for instance, instead of developing attention
and concentration, only result in the fluctuation of attention and concentration.
These games just have fast-moving images on a screen that requires no concentration
or thinking. The child merely has to make mechanical actions. It's just
for fun, there is no learning involved. First of all, the child has to
focus its attention on the object. Whereas in toys like Ludo, Carrom, and
Lego, a child has to think and use its imagination.
Spend time with
your child
Dr. Mehrotra says, "Parents should
spend a lot of time with their children. They should not just give them
toys, they should also play with them. There are age-appropriate toys available
in the market. For instance, Lego is an excellent toy for developing attention
and concentration. However, if you leave a child alone with a Lego set,
he will probably just throw the pieces around, as he will not understand
what he is supposed to do with them. Parents should demonstrate how to
use Lego to their children and also show their keenness towards the toy.
Another way in which parents can help is by helping their children to draw
properly. Even that will help develop their attention and concentration
and improve their perception skills.
It is important that parents not
just sit around and watch TV or entrust them to older siblings and expect
their children to play on their own. Children need parental involvement
and guidance."
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