Let me preface this by saying we all love our kids. That is a fact.
Sometimes, though, it’s tempting to lock ourselves in the closet with a bag of M&Ms and ignore the little hands pounding on the door demanding that we share.
No matter what Hallmark Movies might try to tell the world, we are only human.
Hiding isn’t the only solution when it comes to getting our little balls of energy to start slowing down for the night.
Here are 6 reasons that you should play with your kids instead of leaving them to their own devices during playtime.
1. It Helps Kids Develop A Variety of Skills
To the average adult that has grown up being told that it’s time to put away childish things, the act of play might seem like a waste of time.
That couldn’t be further from the truth. Kids spend the majority of their formative years absorbing everything around them, from how to solve problems to how to interpret social cues and everything in between.
Learning to stack blocks into fantastic towers helps them develop both gross and fine motor skills — but how are they going to know how to stack the blocks in the first place if you aren’t there to show them how and encourage them to try again when a poorly placed block causes the whole castle to tumble?
As an adult, we might take something as simple as stacking blocks for granted, but for a young child who hasn’t experienced blocks or stacking or the concept of gravity before, it’s all new and exciting and they need you to guide them through it.
2. It Encourages Bonding Between Parent and Child
We hear parents talking about how they bonded with their child instantly, as soon as they looked into those bright eyes for the first time.
This is sweet when it happens, but it is one-sided, at least initially. It takes time for children to understand what bonds are and how to form them.
Spending time focusing on play makes it easy to build those bonds without either of you actually having to think about it.
This is easier for young children who are starting to see the world take shape as they experience more of it, but for parents who might have missed the mark while their kids were growing up, there is still hope.
Take the time to learn about their interests and join them in whatever they’re excited about right now.
That could mean binge-watching all the Marvel Movies so you have an actual answer when they ask you who your favorite superhero is, or learning how to play Fortnite so they have an extra person on their team just to name a couple of examples.
3. It Supports Multigenerational Play
Parents aren’t the only ones that can reap the benefits of playing with their kids.
Roughly 20% of the population lives in a multigenerational household, giving kids a unique opportunity to build strong bonds with the older members of their family, something that was more difficult just a generation ago.
Studies show that kids who have strong bonds with their grandparents enjoy increased self-worth and more one-on-one attention, which can be extremely beneficial for children who have parents with busy careers.
Grandparents and older family members can benefit from these relationships too.
4. It Can Help Keep You Healthy
When was the last time you ran around a park playing freeze tag or climbed over a jungle gym trying to keep up with your kids?
If just the thought of that is leaving you out of breath, then this tip is for you.
Playing with your kids is a great way to get the recommended 150 minutes of activity that the CDC recommends for the average adult each week.
Chasing your kids around the playground is great for cardio.
Throwing them over your shoulder or climbing the jungle gym after them can double as strength training.
Both types of exercise are essential to maintaining your health.
If you don’t feel like going to the gym afterward, at least you’ve gotten up and moving at some point during the day.
5. It Can Improve Family Morale and Mental Health
After spending nearly two years living in the shadow of a global pandemic, it’s begun taking a toll on everyone’s mental health.
Getting out and playing with your kids won’t just help keep your body healthy. It can also help improve your family’s collective mental health as well.
Research has shown that regular exercise can have a positive impact on a number of mental health concerns, including depression, anxiety, and even ADHD.
It is important to note that exercise should be used in conjunction with therapy and modern medicine rather than as a replacement for it, but it can be a valuable tool for anyone who is suffering from anxiety or depression, or just the impact of spending two years worrying about catching a dangerous virus.
6. It’s Just FUN!
When was the last time you fought a dragon or acted as the villain in a scenario that someone imagined for you?
We’re taught to put away childish things as we get older, but when it comes right down to it, why should we?
We spend so much time trying to be what society deems as the perfect adult and end up all the more miserable for it.
We’ve created a society where we don’t allow ourselves to do something just for the joy of it.
Either we have to be experts or we have to be able to turn it into a side hustle. It’s sucking all the joy out of our lives.
Getting out there and playing with our kids is a great way to learn how to play again. Forget everything that you’ve been taught.
Forget worrying about whether finding joy in something without monetizing it is immature. Just get out there, get out of your own head, and have some fun!
Get Out There And Play With Your Kids!
We get it. It’s tempting to plop your kids in front of a tablet or their favorite toys and let them go to town while you get a little bit of a break.
That’s just part of parenting, but it shouldn’t be all of it.
Take the time to get out of your seat or off your bench and play with your kids the next time they invite you to join their game.
The results might surprise you.