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Tips for child led play





I just finished a Facetime call with my friend Karin Draper, a local Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and adjuct professor at APU. With years of experience in counseling and early childhood mental health, I thought I could pick her brain on how to connect with my two preschool boys. She gave me some useful tools that I thought I'd share with you!
She encouraged me to have regular segments of unstructured child led play. She explained that even 10 minutes of one on one time with your child, could help you connect with and tune into your child's emotional needs.

 Here are some tips for unstructured child led play:
  • Call it something special ie "Mommy and Everett's Special Time"
  • Let them expect it- make it a part of your routine
  • Try not to use technology during child led play (no phones or tablets) 
  • Let them lead! Your role is to ask questions and to engage in the play.
  • Reflect on what you're seeing while you play. " You really like the color green!" 
  • Ask projective questions " Oh! What is the bear feeling?"

It's important to remember that while this season is difficult for us as parents, it may also be uncomfortable for our children. Any difference in their normal routine can be a challenge for them. We can use child led play as a sort of emotional thermometer. Their play can let us know what their perception is and perhaps show us how we can better support them. Remember, the goal of child led play is that our children feel seen and heard. There is no better way to do that than engagement.

Another tool she encouraged is a "feelings chart." Preschool age children should have a chart of 8-15 emotions. Using this teaches them how to put language to how they're feeling. This is a tool we've encouraged at Calvary Chapel Preschool as a regular part of our social and emotional curriculum. If you're interested, you can also find fun feelings chart activities on Pinterest!

Praying for your day,
Miss Kat

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