Creative Child January 2018 | Page 7

Playing promotes bonding Children build relationships through time spent interacting and playing with others. When parents play with their kids it gives them an opportunity to see things from their perspective, use pretend play to explore their environment, build problem solving skills, and have fun together. When children play with their parents they learn to trust them, how interact with others, and how healthy competition works.We all build relationships and bonds when we spend time together. What relationship is more important the one of parent and child? Playing is fun Playing comes easily to children, but somewhere along the way we forget how to play with a prescribed set of rules and why we enjoyed it in the first place. When parents give themselves permission to let go of their to-do list for a few moments and just focus on the fun that comes with playing, they have time to enjoy their kids, laugh with them, and show them their lighter side. Playing is great stress relief Once we have set aside time in our day to allow for play, we often find ourselves smiling and laughing more often with our children. After experiencing this, we can feel some of the day’s tension lift. Playing is a great way to relieve stress, especially when it includes physical activity. Getting out in the backyard and playing catch, taking a walk to the park, or exploring nature are great ways to reduce stress while playing with and bonding with your child. Playtime can be a great stress relief to children as well. It gives them a chance to act out their frustration and worries in a safe environment. 6