Have Fun with your Children

4 Parts:

The Usual Reasons

How to Have Fun with Your Children

Activities Galore:

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Having fun with your children is something parents often neglect doing. Even the most responsible parents forget that beyond taking care of a child's physical and educational needs, they have to spend time with their children just to have fun with them. A child needs to learn through various ways what relationships are, and one of the most effective ways this can be done is for them is through fun and play. This is where children can internalize the idea that parents can be fun and life is good.

Modern psychology today recognizes the importance of children's relationships with peers and adults, how these impact on the way children learn, think, and develop. The field of educational psychology also recognizes that EQ or emotional quotient, developed through social experiences in childhood, is as important a component as IQ in productive living. All these point to a need for children to have healthy playtime with their parents.

I remember that as a child my father worked and Mom was always busy cleaning the house. I used to walk around looking for something to do or someone to talk to. I would go into another room and play school "by myself" and hand out paper to an "imaginary" classroom of students. I built other scenarios to entertain myself, but eventually, I would get bored or frustrated. I would end up watching television, because my parents were too busy. How happy I was though, when my parents did take time out for me, and play a game of checkers, cards, or just go out to get an ice cream cone! My recollection of fun times spent with my parents makes me realize as adult that spending time with your children makes all the difference!

In this article, we will be discussing how we, as parents, can take time to have fun with our children and the different ways through which we can do that. As we know, parenting isn't all about instructing and correction; a good part of it involves knowing your child and spending good quality time with them, just having FUN!

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   "I'M TOO BUSY"

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   How many times as parents have we said this to our children? Of course we are busy, and no one is saying the things that concern us aren't worthwhile or necessary. However, we all need to realize that while the cares of daily living and carving out some economic security for our children will be there for a good twenty years, our children's childhood will only last for a few years. After that, this childhood is gone, and with it all the opportunities for creating happy memories to last a lifetime. We will always be busy, but our children won't always be children.

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2. 2
   "I CAN'T FIND TIME"

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   It is true that parents of young children are often in a situation where they can't find time for a lot of important things, because there is always something going on -chores, housework, jobs, and a host of endless tasks day in and day out. If you are waiting for a time when everything is done so you can play with the kids, you will never get around to doing it. As the young people say today, "FYI, not going to happen."

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   1. As parents we just need to set aside time for our children, even if it's only a 30 minute period on certain days.
   2. The maxim is: Don't FIND time. MAKE time.
   3. That's right, we need to make time for the children while a 20 minute snakes-and-ladders game means the world to them.
   4. Once they are in their teens, it is they who will have no time for us.

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3. 3
   "I'M TOO OLD TO PLAY GAMES"

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   You may be too old to play hockey, or tag, or hide-and-seek, but even a 60 year old can play checkers, or old maid, or monopoly, or charades. Sometimes we mistake our tiredness and lack of interest for an inability to play. Dressing up paper dolls, making dinosaurs out of play dough, or picking up sticks are games that don't need strength and stamina. What you need instead are a good supply of patience and a healthy sense of fun.

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There are several useful pointers you can look into if you want to have fun with your children. Remember, having fun is not necessarily a physically strenuous activity; it is often something that is determined by attitude or perspective.

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   Be totally present when you are with your children

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   Adults can be physically present with their children and be elsewhere mentally. While children are trying to tell stories or play games, parents can be obsessing about bills or work that needs to be done. Let go of everything else for the time you are with your children. Even if they will only have half an hour of your time, let it be quality time because they have your undivided attention.

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2. 2
   Pay attention to your surroundings

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   Don't scrimp on telling children about what is around them. A brilliant woman who had two bachelor's degrees, a Master's and a PhD in biochemistry before she turned 28 says she owes much of her academic success to a father who used to point out trees, plants, and the peculiar characteristics that made them unique. "It was all a continuing field trip with Dad. I knew what a monocot was before I had science in school, and why, strictly speaking, a spider was not an insect."

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3. 3
   Use your imagination and allow the children to use theirs

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   There are "pretend" games that you can play with your children. Having a Mad Hatter tea party, playing "princess", playing teacher and student are all games that allow children to use their imagination. If they have play dough, encourage them to create shape and figures outside of the molds provided in the set. You will be surprised at how much fun can be had from seeing the minds of children work.

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4. 4
   Encourage them to be creative

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   Allow your children to draw, paint, write, or put collages together. Ask them what their creations are all about and encourage them to express themselves. Not a day will go by without their something that will amaze you or tickle your funny bone.

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Here is a list of 31 activities you and your children can enjoy. None of them will take more than half a day to accomplish but all of them have the potential to build a treasure trove of memories that will serve your children well when they have children of their own.

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   Play a board game
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