The Importance of Play

A study published in the British Medical Journal is reporting that play (psychosocial stimulation) in early childhood significantly helps emotional development in children with stunted growth.

“Researchers found that those who had received the stimulation of play as young children reported significantly less anxiety and depression and higher self-esteem. Their parents also reported that the children had fewer attention problems.”

The researchers concluded that the next challenge is to take this information to develop interventions that can help meet the needs of developmentally-challenged kids. I think it’s interesting in terms of all children.
Maybe next time you’re stuck on the floor playing another round of teddy bear tea party/fight club with your little one, it won’t feel so much like the fifth circle of the inferno but an important part of emotional development…even more important than we realized.

Read the entire article, “Early Play Helps Stunted Children.”

There’s Nothing Like Siblings

Having siblings can be both delightful and a pain in the rear end. When we’re kids, the older ones tend to bully or boss, while the younger ones tend to take over everything they can using their being the youngest as reason to get away with bloody murder…or so it seems.

It can be annoying if you’re close in age. You not only have to deal with them at home, you have to deal with them in school. You often get compared to each other and the expectations are either high or low depending on the performance of your older kin.

It can also be a great thing. You have readily available playmates. You have instant protectors should the need arise and you never really go to a party alone because your sibs will make sure that you either get to tag along or have a date or something; sometimes whether you want to or not.

They can also be your best friends. Nobody will truly understand you the way your siblings do. When the chips are down, you can normally expect that one of them will be on the phone, or on the way to where you are to help you get back on your feet. Yes, they may lecture and scold but that comes with wanting the best for you.

Often we desperately look for friendship and acceptance in classmates and officemates. We try to become part of the cool crowd and belong to the most popular or active groups. What we often fail to realize is that the group that accepts us as we are is already there. We belonged the day we were born and nothing takes away the membership to this club.

So take a day off. Get to know your siblings. It actually gets easier as you grow older if you’ll just give each other a chance.

Mommy, Can I Help?

We were all so excited. We had a costume party coming up and everyone was talking about what we would wear and any necessary props. Since our group also had a booth at the event, the agenda for the night also included preparing the backdrop for our area.

As soon as my daughter saw the brushes she was excited as well. She has a love for art and was eager to help. Unfortunately, her aunt who was in charge of the set didn’t want her to take part because they feared that she might be more a hindrance than a help.

I saw my daughter watching forlornly from the side. She really wanted to be part of what was going on. She knew she could help, but no one would let her.

I bet this is true of all children. They want to be part, they are capable of accomplishing the task (with a little guidance) but very few adults will let them help. They feel left out and sad.

I am thankful that we finally managed to find her something to do. It gave her a sense of importance to be able to help.  We assigned her a task that she could do by herself, without our supervision and she did it well. She glowed at the praise she got.

What about your kids? Have you been ignoring their need to be part of your activities? Find a way to let them be part. It will bring you closer together and create memories that they will treasure. Who knows? They may just amaze you with their skills.

The Right to Be Just as Boring as Everyone Else

Cokie and Steven V. Roberts are like a lot of heterosexual people, their views on gay marriage has changed. Both news people originally had a stance of accepting civil unions, but not gay marriage as equal to hetero marriage. And yet life interferes and you learn that (a) have gay family and friends, and (b) they are so freaking normal that the gay strawman created for you (the one that would ruin the sanctity of marriage) is obviously absurd.

You want your family and friends to fall in love, you want them to find their true love, and you want them to have the same rights and benefits that you get. Because you love them, you want the best for them. Because their lives are just as normal and boring as yours. A love, a house, some kids, and a dog. Not so scary as many people originally thought and not a threat to hetero marriage.

The Roberts’ views have grown and changed to a more accepting place with gay marriage.

“As we approach our own 40th anniversary, we believe in marriage more than ever. It might not be right for all people all of the time, but it’s right for most people most of the time, whatever their sexual orientation…”

Read the entire article, “The Right to Be Boring.”

Kids, Toys and Games

My friends and I were talking about what would make great gifts for kids. There were suggestions of play houses, slides and toy robots. Building blocks and balls were also recommended along with cars, trucks and various vehicles of all shapes and sizes. Some were truly expensive toys that I would love to have myself.

You could tell who of us actually grew up with kids around or were already parents because of the kind of gifts we suggested. Experience has shown me that sometimes the one we think they will love the least is what they like the most.

Take for example the slide. I managed to save up for one and gave it to my kids a couple of years ago for christmas. They loved the size of the gift and were excitedly tearing the wrapper. As soon as we had it out of the box, you know what they did? They ignored the slide and played house with the box it came in!

Kids have simple tastes when they are young. We are the ones who teach them to have a desire for the toys that flash and whirl and go bang. There are many simple toys that are fun and educational and absolutely perfect for them.

Among toys that my kids loved as babies are soft blocks, assorted buckets, swim balls, a basketball set (the kind that was adjustable) and for my girl - a rag doll.
Now, they play with many kinds of toys but we have added game boards that we can play as a family. We play Uno, Scrabble, Cranium, Sorry and Monopoly together. Of course, living with computers, we each have a neopet which helps teach the kids responsibility as well.

Toys are meant to be fun as well as educational. There are many toys to choose from. Keep in mind that the kinds of toys they play with help shape their character and their safety is always of paramount importance.