Do You Like to Play with Your Kids?
April 1, 2013 in All Posts, Parenting, Play
I just read a really interesting article in Redbook Magazine - yes, I realize how old that makes me sound, but I find it even more aging to pretend I’m not an almost 40-year old mom - about a mom who confesses that she hates playing with her kids and has mommy guilt about not being enthusiastic about playing Candyland (or tea party or trains) for the bazillionth time with her daughters.
Take a swig of your latte if you’re not at all shocked by this “Mom Confession” and actually have felt at some point or another that you’d rather get ten bikini waxes in a row than take another trip to the park.
Double swig (except it’s regular coffee with organic light vanilla soy).
Despite being a mom who blogs about ways to play with your kids, as I read through that article, I was nodding in agreement as the author described making grocery lists in her head while waiting for a game to end or typing e-mails secretly under the table until she was busted by the kids. I TOTALLY get that. I felt it a lot when I stayed home with the kids and I still feel it back at work part-time, even though my time with them is so much more precious because it’s limited by my work hours. But guess what: it’s normal! And definitely not a reason to have mommy guilt over, which the author says she suffers from.
You don’t HAVE to play with your kids.
You don’t HAVE to schedule playdates and be forced to play with other kids’ moms.
You don’t HAVE to enjoy getting down on the ground to play with dolls and dinosaurs with your little ones.
I think what the author is missing and what anyone, if you’re suffering from mommy guilt for not absolutely loving playtime, needs to know is that kids don’t need you to play. They’re perfectly fine and happy without you. But - taking a few minutes every day (or every week if that’s all you can muster - which is FINE) to slow down and be present with your children will give your family a positive boost from connecting in a way that might not be built into your daily routine and a way that your kids might really dig just because they’re kids and I’m guessing, probably love to play - even if you don’t.
If you’re looking for more ways to connect through creative play, I want to tell you about an exciting new workshop from two of my friends, Gina, at Connecting Family and Seoul, and Kat of Creative Playhouse: the
Connecting Family through Creative Play Workshop!
Starting April 8th, Gina and Kat will send you daily inspiration for ways to play and connect with your little one. You’ll also gain access to a private Facebook group and direct access to play experts, Gina & Kat, who are friendly, accessible, and dedicated to helping YOU connect with your children and make lasting memories with your family.
This affordable workshop is for you if:
- You need new ways to get the whole family playing together.
- You are looking for a comfortable balance between the everyday tasks that fill up your to-do list and connecting with your child in meaningful ways.
- You simply need fresh ideas for ways to play!
Gina and Kat are SO passionate about helping families connect through play, they are offering their workshop on a pay-what-you-can-basis.
Check it out! I’m going to and would love to see you there!
Need more ideas for easy ways to play and connect? Here are a just a few of my favorite bloggers and their wonderful resources for play inspiration:
- One Perfect Day (beautiful blog with a great article on the ABCs of Connecting with our Kids)
- Toddler Approved (totally easy, fun ideas with full instructions)
- Creative With Kids (not just articles on play, but how to connect with kids and self-care for moms)
- hands on : as we grow (if you sign up for Jamie’s newsletter, you can download a free play planner template to fill in yourself)
- NurtureStore (Cathy regularly gives out a free weekly play planner chock full of inspiration!)
- Kids Activities Blog (a multi-contributor blog, including yours truly, with TONS of ideas for learning and play)
So…confess: do you really like to play with your kids all the time or can you relate to the feeling of just trying to get through it sometimes?
Parents and friends: for more ideas, activities, and inspiration for #RaisingThinkingKids, click on an icon below to join us on Facebook, Pinterest, Google+ and Twitter.
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Chrissy – who has written 426 posts on The Outlaw Mom® Blog - Creative Living in a Conventional World.
i can so relate! confession: i completely hate playgrounds, and i’m not the greatest at small world play types of pretend. i just can’t keep up with the active imagination and enthusiasm of a 6yo… so, i just try to involve my daughter in the things i’m doing as much as possible (real life activities like gardening and cooking that she can “help” with at the age of 6.) and i LOVE making art, so that’s more our speed of together time, and we do that on the daily. i do find that i can sustain interest in some games or puzzles, so i go for bird bingo or UNO whenever i get to choose. 😉
I definitely agree….sometimes, it’s not in the cards to play together. I think the act of just being together and really present (one of the many reasons I’m a blogger without a smartphone- which is only a pain when people serial text KNOWING it takes a full minute for me click “LOL”. I can’t even make a proper emoticon because I lack a colon/semi-colon option)…
Sometimes, just slowing down- even to watch television near our kids, is a good way to relax, regroup and just BE together. And, really, the only thing I can really think of that would be more torturous than a bunch of bikini waxes, would be a bunch of bikini epi-lady sessions. Do you remember those?