Learning To Play With Your Kids And Why It's So Important

Play is an integral part of childhood. It's something that children do naturally — exploring the world around them and creating new games and worlds to support their adventure. While it is important for them to play on their own, it is equally essential for you to spend time playing with them. Why should you take the time to learn how to play with your kids and why is it so important?

It Helps You Bond with Your Kids

Bonding with your kids, when they've got phones, tablets and computers to keep them entertained, is more challenging than ever. We want our kids to come to us with their problems and know they can talk to us if they're ever having an issue with anything, but they're more likely to Google the answer than to talk to us. Playing with your kids helps to create an unshakable bond. 

Regular play makes them want to cooperate with you, which carries over to other aspects of your life. You can turn just about anything into a game, from brushing their teeth to doing homework or cleaning up after themselves. Explore the possibilities and see how play can help you bond with your little ones. 

It Helps Them Succeed in School

How many times were you told as a child to sit down and be quiet because school isn't the time or place to play? It's a refrain we've all heard time and again, and it couldn't be more wrong. Taking the time to play with your kids doesn't just wear them out so they sleep well at night — it also teaches them valuable skills that they'll use throughout their educational career and beyond. 

Play teaches them to work together, solve problems, use creativity and even how to be a leader. These skills will help your little ones succeed both in school and life. 

It Keeps Them Healthy

We've mentioned the infamous electronic babysitter — devices like phones, tablets, televisions, game consoles and computers that parents sometimes use to entertain their children while they're trying to get other things done. It's a valuable tool, especially in today's busy world, but as with most things, moderation is the most important thing to remember. 

Today, children only play outside about half as much as their parents did when the older generation was growing up. While technology isn't the only culprit, it plays a huge role in this worrying trend. One of the other reasons you're probably already familiar with — worrying that your little ones will come to harm if you let them play on their own. Getting out and playing with them helps you keep them active while making it easy for you to supervise their activities. Plus, it helps you get some of your recommended cardio exercises every day too. 

Sometimes, You're Their Only Playmate

In today's world, playdates are challenging to schedule because it feels like everyone works and even from a young age, children have fully-packed extra-curricular schedules. While we want to encourage our little ones to make friends wherever and whenever they can, sometimes you're the only person around for them to play with. 

This isn't a bad thing, but it does mean that you'll need to make time to be a playmate — and that doesn't mean sit on the bench on your phone while your kids play. Get up, put the phone away and go play with them. 

It Reminds You of the Joy of Being Young

Your kids aren't the only ones who will benefit from you getting off the bench and heading out to play with them. When was the last time you saved a princess, battled a pirate or slew a dragon? If you're like most of us adults, it was many years ago — back when you were told to put away childish things in favor of becoming a responsible adult. 

With all due respect to those teachers and elders that told us to grow up — forget that. Playing with your kids helps you remember the joy of being young, something that most of us have forgotten as we've gotten older. Don't let the idea of being a 'responsible adult' ruin the joy you can find playing and using your imagination. 

Looking Forward

Next time your kid asks to play, instead of putting it off or relying on the electronic babysitter, get up, go out and play with them. You're helping to keep them healthy and set them up for success in school. You might also be surprised at how much fun you have been a playmate — or a dragon to slay or a monster to defeat — for your little ones.