Make play part of your routine
Routines are an important source of safety and stability for children. While things are probably different for your family right now, it is especially important to schedule regular times to play together. This doesn’t have to be a large chunk of time – even five minutes of undivided attention 3-4 times a week can make a big difference to your child’s wellbeing.
Be clear with your child about when these play times are going to be and let them know that during these designated times, your focus will be entirely on them. You may need to get creative if you are juggling working from home and caring for your children. Mealtimes can even be a good place to schedule some fun activities, creative play or board games. Whatever you decide, setting a clear timeframe for play can be especially useful if you are working from home, because it lets your child know that during the designated play time, they will have your full attention.
It can be useful to set up some of your own rituals to avoid being distracted by your phone or other devices during play times. Some parents find turning their devices on silent or off and putting them in another room helps to reduce the temptation to keep checking or respond to notifications
Create a safe space
It might be their toys that they enjoy. Playing within their free time, or it might be they love to get out in the backyard, play in the dirt with sticks, or it might be about, you know, taking them to nature spaces outside. There is a really wonderful place for children to be able to play freely and creatively, take them to the beach or to a creek or to a national park. You know, children just instantly run off to play freely and create their own games. And, you know, that’s incredibly fulfilling for them. And I guess just giving the children the space safe spaces with the energy and time to be able to play and children will play.
Follow your child’s lead
‘Child-led play’ involves sitting back and letting your child choose how you will join in. They are the leader, director, and decision-maker. Letting your child take the lead gives them a sense of validation and shows them that they are strong and capable and that you trust them. It also gives you a chance to learn more about your child – what they enjoy doing, what they’re concerned about, how they cope with solving problems on their own.
Child-led play will look different depending on your child’s age and developmental stage. If you have a baby, you can set out a few different toys and let your child decide which ones they pick up and look at, and how long they spend playing with them. Primary school-age children love their parents to be really involved in their play – joining in as they play pretend or helping to build or create something with them. If you have an adolescent child, you might take on the role of observer, paying close attention to what they’re doing and having a conversation with them about what you noticed afterwards. No matter the child’s age, the key is to follow their lead and let them show you how they would like you to be involved.
Share a story together
Stories offer children a way to make sense and meaning of what is happening to them, through the safety of a fictional character they can identify with. They have a clear beginning, middle and end, and can help children to talk about otherwise difficult emotions and feelings. Telling and re-telling stories can help children to find resolutions for their own experiences.
Reading, writing and sharing stories is an easy way to connect with your child and find out what is going on for them. Your child may find that making up their own story helps them to process the worries they might have about the coronavirus. If the story becomes distressing or the child seems stuck on a particular part, you can offer some support and structure to help move the story towards a positive end. You might find it useful to ask children about their own strengths and problem-solving abilities at these times. If there are times where your child has overcome something challenging, you could ask them how they did this, and how they might use the same skills and resilience to overcome the problem in their story.
Be kind to yourself
It’s normal to feel stressed, worried or anxious during uncertain times. Remember that this situation is completely new – you might be struggling to make sense of things yourself, whilst also trying to maintain a sense of normality and help your children understand what is happening.
It is also normal to find child-led play a bit challenging at first. Parents are used to being in charge, so shifting the power to your child might feel a little odd. Your child’s interests or style of play may also be different to your own ideas and experiences, and you may find yourself wanting to step in and guide your child towards playing in a way that feels more ‘natural’ to you. If you are finding it difficult, speak to your GP or practitioner about strategies you can use to make child-led play easier.
