Ditch technology and play with kids parents are urged
Parents should ditch the telly and technology and get back to play basics urge Face paint company Snazaroo, and parenting expert and author Judy Reith.
Reintroducing some old-fashioned fun back in to play time with make-believe and traditional games such as cards, dominoes and jigsaws would give children a better quality of play.
In a recent survey, 66 per cent of parents with children aged between 4 and 12 admitted that watching television is their children’s favourite playtime activity. It didn’t get any better with 47 per cent of children playing computer games as their second favourite activity.
One in four parents are now worried that their children are enjoying less creative play than they did as children but this doesn’t seem to be stopping them from making sure that half of British kids now own a games console and 46 per cent of kids have a TV in their bedroom.
Judy Reith, of Parenting People, is keen to get parents thinking about what they enjoyed as children, and also get mums and dads more involved with playtime.
She said: “Collectively we have let the amount of quality time we spend with our children slip and gradually television and video games have become all-important. However, it’s not too late to reverse the trend and if we can reintroduce these fun tools back into our kids’ lives now we can hope that our children’s children will be regularly exercising their imaginations from an early age.
“The summer holidays present a great time to bring back some of the old fashioned games – be it cards, dominoes and make believe – and for mum and dad to try and redress the work/home life balance.
“In one generation, family life has changed dramatically, but parents need to dig deep and find the energy to spend some quality time playing with their kids. It can be hard at first, throwing yourself into games and activities for the kids, but the benefits to you and the children are considerable. This is the stuff that childhood memories are made of.”
Brand manager of Snazaroo face paints Charlie Wallis face said: “When it comes to playing with the kids, it’s about quality rather than quantity. Work pressures have never been as intense, but parents regularly tell us that activities such as face painting, dress up and role play are brilliant quick solutions that can help parents bond with their children.”
To help busy parents get back to play-basics, Snazaroo has developed a downloadable guide with quick fix hints and tips on how to keep the kids entertained this summer. Visit www.snazaroo.com
Snazaroo and Judy Reith bring you ten quick fixes to help you make the most of your time together over the summer holidays.
1. Build in some downtime
Remember you need a break just as much as the children. Plan out the summer activities on a chart with your kids, but be sure to build some time in for you too. Play dates can be a big help, or better still explain to your kids when you need some space to be on your own – just a five minute breather can help.
2. Keep the activities age appropriate
Your kids are a whole year older this summer, so what was a big hit last year might not have the same appeal now. Think about how you can keep activities fresh and age appropriate. Have lots of fun with toddlers for free using junk modelling, water play and trips to the local park. Meanwhile, put older children and teenagers in charge of planning and budgeting for days out. Make sticking to the budget more of a challenge by leaving the credit card at home and using only the allotted amount of cash.
3. Let your hair down
Now’s the chance to relax and release your inner-child. It can be hard to make time to play, but it’s one of the most precious things you can do for your children. As a child, what did you love to do? You might not be a budding David Beckham or want to dress up, but give it go. Your kids will love to see you let your hair down and it’s a great way to create happy memories for you and them.
4. Get creative
Research shows kids should really only have two hours or less a day of ANY screen – be it TV or computer. So instead of resorting to TV or video games to keep them entertained, stock up on art materials or better still some face paints, which offer some real quality bonding time between you and your child, and are a great aid to role play.
4. Make full use of local resources
Visit your local council’s website or library for plenty of free ideas for families and children. Look online at parenting web sites and blogs, ask your friends and get older kids to help with the research too.
5. Plan ahead
For maximum fun with minimum cost, aim for something that will keep most of you happy, most of the time; and if days out tend to make you feel stressed, focus on how you WANT the day to go, and discuss it with your children. No one will want you to be anxious and irritable, least of all you, so a bit of planning beforehand should mean that the smile for the photo will be genuine.
Picnics can be good failsafe fun – especially if you get the children to help shop and make the picnic, which helps reduce the risk of them rejecting your sandwiches!
6. Get active
The summer’s a great time to dust off the trainers and go for a run or play a game in the park together. Alternatively, borrow the nearest friendly dog and go for a family walk, or if you’ve a garden, why not set up an obstacle course with old bric-a-brac, but remember to join in the race too!
8. Restock the toy chest
Why wait until it’s party time to buy a new game or get out the face paints? The holidays are the perfect opportunity to clear out old toys or games, and replace them with new finds from the charity shop or swap with friends. Have a think about what you used to love to play with when you were their age – and introduce some old traditional board games or toys into the mix.
9. Go green
Have you noticed how much is on offer to help all of us get better at recycling or green living so our grandchildren can enjoy our planet too? As well as being good for the environment it can be great fun for the kids too. Separating and sorting the can be turned into a good game or you could encourage them to take on their own bit of the garden for a veg patch.
10. Set boundaries
The best way to make your kids happy is to simply have fun with them and give them some of your time. If you work, get clear about your boundaries – are you available 24/7 if your boss needs you? Who’s really in charge of your time? It’s not always easy but try to leave work on time as often as you can and then set some regular play hours aside for the kids – not for the day to day stuff, just pure unadulterated fun. No matter how tired you are after work, you will be surprised how these hours help you switch off from the office and leave you feeling rewarded and exhilarated.