Spoiler Alert: This isn’t written by a psychologist or trained professional…it’s by a homeschool mom. But this homeschool mom sees the value of play for my kids in the stages of development they have experienced up to this point. Here is my advice – do not neglect play.
I have three kids, two girls, and a boy, all so vastly different from each other. But do you know what they all have in common, besides their love of ice cream and building things in the yard? They love to play! They love to imagine, pretend, create, sort and set up scenes or moments. But I must confess that I stumbled upon the importance of play accidentally.
When my first child was born and began to do more than sweetly sleep all day, I pulled out a toy and set her down to play while I cooked a meal or did some other task nearby. This habit continued when the second one was born. I could set them at the table with crayons or play-dough or building blocks and let them play while I worked on my laptop next to them. Then my son was born and my “just let them play” theory went out the window. He needed bigger activities, more interaction and frequent changes in action. He was all hustle and bustle. But, he still plays.
I try to keep space in my kids’ days so they can have that time to deeply dive into their own pretend world, to build the extremely detailed Lego creation or calm down while creating beautiful art pieces. When we have three or four busy days in a row, my girls start asking for time to play. I know this season of life will end eventually, but for now, I feel it is a beautiful thing for them be able to settle down while playing.
Play allows for kids to sort through real life things in their minds. They get to make sense of the world around them—at least as much as humanly possible. Play provides a platform for processing facts, life stages, and for practicing skills. Pretending helps to sort out stressful things.
From one mom to another, let them play. Let them pretend. Let them stay in this stage of childhood for as long as they are developmentally there. Don’t force them to give away their dolls or blocks too early. Give them the gift of space to play.
Lindsay Banton is a caffeinated mother to three great kids. She never expected to homeschool, but has found that it is a wonderful addition to their lifestyle and wouldn’t change it for the world. In addition to homeschooling, Lindsay works alongside her husband in campus ministry at a large university in Connecticut. She grew up in Virginia but has settled into life in New England, learning to love the long winters, cool springs, green summers and gorgeous autumns- and has built a boot collection to meet all the demands. She is currently blogging at www.oaksreplanted.blogspot.com.
