We all want to raise kids that are creative and expressive. One of my biggest challenges in terms of nurturing creativity as a parent, is the fact that there are so many other competing activities. There are school activities followed by after-school activities and before you know it, it’s time to go to bed. In between these activities, we try to teach them a host of other important stuff like manners, good values, right attitudes etc. Parenting is hard and the cliché is true: you never know how hard it is until you have your own children!

Let me just say that I am in no way a parenting expert. However, I want to share with you what I have discovered through playing with my children and how it has truly enriched the time we spent together. A few years ago, I enrolled my son for Play therapy and it helped him deal with some challenges he was facing then. After these sessions, he was noticeably more cheerful and less restless. Since then, I did a little research on the key ideas behind play therapy and why it works.

I found that the foundational ideas behind play therapy are useful to keep in mind when we play with our children. In my personal experience as a mother, playing sounds easy peasy but it doesn’t come easily when I am busy, stressed or experiencing lack of sleep. In times like these we all need reminders of why we make time for Play and how it can nurture a child’s creativity.

So here’s a quick list I’ve put together. Keeping this in mind will elevate and transform your playtime.

1. The number one objective for playtime lest we adults forget is: FUN. Yes having fun. Lots of it. So, the best way to assess if you had a successful playtime is to check whether or not your kids had fun. If you had fun, but your kids can’t wait for it to be over, you need to rethink your game plan.

2. Let your kids take the lead. Let them choose the types of games they want to play. Don’t be a boss and choose Monopoly so you can beat them at it.

3. Differentiate between values (good vs bad behaviours) and preferences (types of play). This can sometimes get screwed up if we are not careful. We don’t dictate what games to play but it doesn’t mean that all hell breaks loose, and they can do whatever they want. We are firm and fair with behaviours but free and easy with pretty much everything else.

4. They talk. We listen. This is not the time to lecture them about what happened earlier in the day or teach them about stuff. You have the rest of the day to do that.

5. Set a fixed time, ahead of time. This way, everyone makes time for it and nobody makes excuses, including yourself. Treat it like precious time because it is. Put your phone on silent. It doesn’t have to be long. One hour a day of real play can go a long way.

6. No judgment. This time is about giving them the confidence to express themselves freely. Say your kid tries to dance or rap the first time and fails miserably. Do something you really suck at, laugh about it and say let’s try again.

Alright we’re all set. Now let’s play!