WHAT DOES MY CHILDREN’S FREEDOM TO PLAY LOOK LIKE?

“Have fun in the park without Mom”

A playground is primarily a place where children spend their free time. Playing on the playground is accompanied by both physical and mental development. Importantly, the playground is a place of free play. They often invent their own games and constantly modify them. My son – Patrick, mostly plays cops and robbers with other boys. I know his dream job is “thief.” I asked him one day:

“What do you want to be when you grow up?” and he said:

“A thief!”

When I asked him:

“Why?”

He replied briefly:

“I’ll never have to ask for new toys again.”

Free play gives children a full range of possibilities. They can decide on their own what kind of fun they want to play.

Dealing with competition

I don’t hover around my kids like satellites – just show them once which way to go on the slide and they’ll remember the way. Show them which places are for them to play and which are for older children. Prepare the sand toys ahead of time so they can take them away whenever they want. Sometimes these toys are used to carry water, stones, and other gifts of nature.

I’m a mom who feels like an “alien” on the playground because I don’t stand under the slides, I don’t push my children up the climbing walls and I don’t sit with the children in the sandbox.

Why can’t my children climb walls on their own?

I understand if it’s their first time to a playground or their first attempt at a toy, then they may need a guide, but my 2 -year-olds Dorothy and 5 years old Patrick are great on their own.

Very often, when a parent accompanies a child to the playground, he reacts faster than necessary. Interferes in children’s negotiations or quarrels, and does not allow them to learn communication, negotiation, and substantive conversation. The child has limited opportunities to build independence. On the playground, competition is a constant element during children’s play. 

And after all, the parent will not always accompany the child in such situations.

Physical fitness

Everyone, small, adult, or elderly, should exercise. If we instill in a small child the desire to be active, he will do it more often in adult life.

The playground is the perfect place because when children go to the playground, they know that they will have a good time there. And behind the fun on the playground there is physical activity, a climbing wall, climbing spider webs, ladders, slides, swings and other exercise equipment for the child.

On the playground, the child is in constant motion. Children will improve their condition and strengthen their immunity by playing in the square. Movement affects the development of muscles and the proper functioning of joints.

Bruises, scratched knees, mud, sand, disheveled hair, this is probably the best summary of my children’s fun and a summary of the day, which, as usual, gave them a lot of joy.

Every mom knows that plasters are the most effective painkiller and anesthetic for young children today! No pain won’t be soothed by a good patch with your favorite cartoon character! At Dorothy’s, every accident after which you can see the slightest scratch is a great reason to apply for a Paw Patrol patch.

Cooperation with another children 

This is one of the most important skills that will be useful in adult life. Parents put a lot of effort into teaching their child to cooperate with others. From an early age, they teach them how to be kind to others. Working in a group teaches us, above all, cooperation. But also by solving problems and completing tasks, we get to know people, their thoughts and experiences. This affects the formation of bonds between people. The playground is the perfect place to develop this skill.

Try not to set rules for children to play or limit their activities. Children form their own groups and set their own rules. It is a natural way of acquiring this skill. Thanks to it, children will become more courageous and sociable.

Persistence

Children who have trouble performing an activity on the playground can learn to persevere. Trying until they reach their goal. For example, my older son has never had problems with climbing walls, nets, or ladders, Dorota is doing poorly, but she does not give up trying to imitate him at lower heights. Children watch children and realize that games they couldn’t do are possible. By watching other children, they learn that through trial and failure, they will reach the top just like other children.

Development of all senses

On the playground, children can develop the sense of sight and hearing. The playground is not a quiet place. There are screams, laughter, and even cries. This does not prevent my children from conversing with other children and continuing to play.

Also spending time outdoors with my children helps them develop their sense of touch and smell.

Climbing a wall with stones (imitation stones), holding ropes while swinging and many other activities require touch. The child must feel the correct position of the hands and feet in order to climb as high as possible or stay stable on the swing. The sense of smell is stimulated, for example, by the smell of wood, grass, sand after rain. Children are invigorated and stimulated to play actively, which nature itself provides them with. And I guess like most kids, my kids love to play in the park after it rains. Slide down wet slides, stick to wet sand, pour water from place to place, and sometimes also pour water into shoes.

I am not a mom who doesn’t play with her children and spends active days with them in the park or garden. Playgrounds are special places where my children are surrounded by other children, where my children play with other children without me. They invent games and overcome all kinds of obstacles that make me close my eyes. Then I know they’re fine without me. I watch and wait until they finally come running to me for water, snacks, or sand toys and when asked if we can go home, they always say NO. https://littlepuzzlesandme.com/time-to-go-home-my-sweet-darling/