MBI's Guide to Playing With Your Kids
Wife has been down with a nasty cold this weekend. We haven't exactly pinned down the source of the infection yet, but we have a hunch that she caught it from Son since he spent most of last week COUGHING INTO HER MOUTH AND NOSE.
Since the lady of the house isn't feeling her best, I've made an effort to get the kids out of her hair this weekend. Of particular importance has been getting Son out of her hair. While Son has recovered from his cold, he has yet to shake the bad 'tude he caught. So there has been much, much screaming on his part.
Yesterday morning, I took the kids outside to play in the yard. We spent about 90 minutes out there picking up pine cones, climbing on the little play structure and kicking balls around.
Sometimes when I'm playing with the kids I feel like a bit of a heel. I find myself wanting to step in if it looks like what they're doing is somewhat dangerous. I ask them to pipe down if I think they're getting too loud. I steer them away from activities I think might get them dirty.
In short, sometimes I feel like I'm not much fun to play with.
I gave some thought last night to what behaviors on my part produce the most consistent fun times on their part. Essentially, I came up with a short list of things to remember to enrich their play - I call it the My Best Investments Guide to Playing With Your Kids.
1) It's all about them.
Even though they can sometimes get their way by crying and fighting and manipulating and arguing, there's really very little that our kids actually control.
At play time, unless they're truly putting their bodies in grave danger, the kids make the rules. It's good for them to feel like they're in charge.
2) They like to play rough.
Kids are made out of rubber. They like to slide and tumble and fall.
Yesterday we played a game in which each kid would sit on a big rubber ball. I would stand in front of them and kick the ball until it flew out from under them. When it did, they would fall to the ground. Then they'd laugh and beg to do it again.
Falling and tumbling and tackling help kids learn about what their bodies can and can't do. It's healthy for kids to knock themselves around a little. They're tougher than we think.
3) Dirty is OK.
We are blessed to live in a country with running water and laundry detergent.
If the kid gets dirty, is it really such a big deal?
When I was a kid we had an orange tree in our backyard. From time to time, a bunch of us from the neighborhood would throw the fallen (and often rotten) citrus at each other. And it was messy. I can also remember playing in mud. That can be dirty, too.
Childhood goes by quickly, and it's the only time in our lives when it's alright to make a big mess.
4) Being a backyardigan is better for them than watching The Backyardigans.
As big a lifesaver as Noggin and Playhouse Disney are at times, being outside breathing fresh air and making up things to do is exponentially more valuable to the kids and to me.
I'm sure I watched my fair share of TV as a child, but I also put a lot of miles on my bike and played a lot of football and basketball with my neighbors.
Granted, you probably wouldn't pick me out of a lineup as someone who played a lot of football and basketball, but I can assure you I had mad skillz.
So there's the My Best Investments Guide to Playing With Your Kids.
Next time you find yourself feeling like a dud, remember these things and get out there and play!
Since the lady of the house isn't feeling her best, I've made an effort to get the kids out of her hair this weekend. Of particular importance has been getting Son out of her hair. While Son has recovered from his cold, he has yet to shake the bad 'tude he caught. So there has been much, much screaming on his part.
Yesterday morning, I took the kids outside to play in the yard. We spent about 90 minutes out there picking up pine cones, climbing on the little play structure and kicking balls around.
Sometimes when I'm playing with the kids I feel like a bit of a heel. I find myself wanting to step in if it looks like what they're doing is somewhat dangerous. I ask them to pipe down if I think they're getting too loud. I steer them away from activities I think might get them dirty.
In short, sometimes I feel like I'm not much fun to play with.
I gave some thought last night to what behaviors on my part produce the most consistent fun times on their part. Essentially, I came up with a short list of things to remember to enrich their play - I call it the My Best Investments Guide to Playing With Your Kids.
1) It's all about them.
Even though they can sometimes get their way by crying and fighting and manipulating and arguing, there's really very little that our kids actually control.
At play time, unless they're truly putting their bodies in grave danger, the kids make the rules. It's good for them to feel like they're in charge.
2) They like to play rough.
Kids are made out of rubber. They like to slide and tumble and fall.
Yesterday we played a game in which each kid would sit on a big rubber ball. I would stand in front of them and kick the ball until it flew out from under them. When it did, they would fall to the ground. Then they'd laugh and beg to do it again.
Falling and tumbling and tackling help kids learn about what their bodies can and can't do. It's healthy for kids to knock themselves around a little. They're tougher than we think.
3) Dirty is OK.
We are blessed to live in a country with running water and laundry detergent.
If the kid gets dirty, is it really such a big deal?
When I was a kid we had an orange tree in our backyard. From time to time, a bunch of us from the neighborhood would throw the fallen (and often rotten) citrus at each other. And it was messy. I can also remember playing in mud. That can be dirty, too.
Childhood goes by quickly, and it's the only time in our lives when it's alright to make a big mess.
4) Being a backyardigan is better for them than watching The Backyardigans.
As big a lifesaver as Noggin and Playhouse Disney are at times, being outside breathing fresh air and making up things to do is exponentially more valuable to the kids and to me.
I'm sure I watched my fair share of TV as a child, but I also put a lot of miles on my bike and played a lot of football and basketball with my neighbors.
Granted, you probably wouldn't pick me out of a lineup as someone who played a lot of football and basketball, but I can assure you I had mad skillz.
So there's the My Best Investments Guide to Playing With Your Kids.
Next time you find yourself feeling like a dud, remember these things and get out there and play!
posted by Leighton @ My Best Investments at
12:58 PM
3 Comments:
Good suggestions. We'd spend more time outside but it's cold and snowing. Instead we're inside jumping over piles of stuffed animals in front of the fire. Maybe this is one of those times I should step in for safety reasons.
I'm so glad I stumbled upon your blog because we are moving to the country and you just affirmed why! We have boys that love to be outdoors! I agree with your rules! My boys get so dirty they sometimes take two baths a day- one before nap, one before bed. 5 out of 7 days they can make it until bed though.
Thanks for participating in this week's Carnival of Family Life, hosted at Diary of 1!!
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