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Keeping our children happy and entertained may seem like a difficult task. Believe it or not, there are many easy and effortless ways to be playful with our children and it does NOT include a screen of any sort. We are so used to giving our little kids a screen just to leave us alone while we cook, clean, or drink our morning tea. What if I tell you that you can cook, clean, and even drink your tea while your toddler/child is occupied on his/her own? Yes, you will need to validate him/her and whatever activity they are working on. But come on, that is just part of life when you’re a parent. We cannot pretend we do not have children throughout our day, let us do that after they go to bed.
Did you know that the first 5 years of your child’s life may determine their personality, behaviors, and future actions? The amount of time, attention, love, and emotional connection you make with your child are extremely important. This is why we need to make an effort and be as creative as possible when it comes to playing and spending time with our children. Research shows that many children who don’t get the needed attention and care from their parents at this young age, tend to suffer from low self-esteem, behavioral issues, mental health issues, and even depression. Let’s avoid these and learn now how to give our children the best versions of ourselves and let’s be happy doing so.
The worst thing that my 3-year-old could do while we are at home is when he climbs up the kitchen counters while I cook. My blood starts to boil and I get so heated because I began to think of the countless times I had told him not to do that. I was very gentle and explained to him why its dangerous. I even let him get near the heat of the stove so he could understand what I meant. Still, every single day he would climb up and ask me if he could cook with me. Yes, I am not joking, every day! I realized I needed to be smarter and I needed to include him in my cooking. I purchased plastic kids’ knives from Amazon and I started to allow him to make his own lunch. I would give him cucumbers, apples, and hard cheese and he would chop them all up. He really enjoys “cooking” so much. He cuts it all up and puts them in bowls and he eats his lunch while I am doing something else in the kitchen. That didn’t stop him from climbing up the kitchen counters but he does it much less than before. I believe the reason is that he is getting the “cooking” out of his system. I started to think of other ways to include him in the kitchen. I let him clear the dishwasher for me by assigning him all the plastic items as well as the spoons and forks. I even let him mix my cooking pot with my help. I let him add salt and pepper to the dish I am cooking and I show him that his help is so important and that I couldn’t have done it without him. I swear to you that now when I cook, he doesn’t always come up on the counters anymore. He knows to find something else to do until I am available for him again.
I know that not all moms are willing to do that with their little children; we all tolerate our kids in different ways. But there are other things you could do. You need to find what works for you and what keeps you and your child happy. Here is a list of things that could get you started. Try them all or try a few and see how when you want to be left alone for a few minutes, you just might succeed because you have already given him the attention he needed for the day.
Make colored rice for sensory play- put a couple of cups of rice in small bowls and color them with food coloring. Then, put all the rice next to each other in one large bin and allow your child to mix it all together and discover the beauty of colors. This will keep them busy for a bit while you sip on your tea sitting alongside them. Tip: always keep a large cardboard box or a dollar store table cover at home for projects like this. It makes clean-up much easier.
Finger paint- find an edible paint recipe online and allow your child to finger paint anything he wants. It is washable and edible. You can tape a very large piece of paper on the floor, wall, and, even on a door.
Sort laundry- while you fold laundry, let your child “help” you. Ask them to send this and that to a specific room in the house and tell them they have 10 seconds to come back. They will hear you counting and it gets exciting for them. Yes, this might make folding the laundry a longer process, but it creates a connection with your child and you will both have fun.
Paint rocks- Go outside with your child, find a couple of large rocks together, and collect them. Go home and set up a painting station and paint the rocks. You can paint one rock with your child as an example and let him/her finish the rest.
Go on a nature walk- You will be surprised how much children love nature. Just go for a walk and let your child lead. Pay attention to what he looks at and what he talks about. Don’t worry about him getting his clothes dirty or getting his hands messy. You will find that a nature walk brings so much joy to children and adults alike. Oh, make sure you let your child bring a souvenir home.
Play with dry-erase markers/board- give your child dry-erase markers and a dry-erase board. Take turns drawing and writing whatever you feel like writing. (make sure you don’t leave them alone with it-or find non-toxic markers).
Poke pipe cleaners through a colander- Give your child a colander and a bunch of pipe cleaners. Show him how to insert a pipe cleaner into the colander and ask him to do so for the rest. This one is really great when you are trying to get some cooking done because he/she can just sit near you.
I hope these examples have inspired you to try them out. Oftentimes we get lost in the routine of taking care of our children and we forget that we actually need to play with them. Make an intention to play with your child daily, even if it is just for five minutes, and remember to give them lots of hugs and eye contact. This connection will help them thrive into healthy and joyful human beings. Always remember that no matter what, you are doing your best, and you are an amazing mamma.
12/12/2022
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