The Importance of Play

Most of us didn't know the importance of play. Some of the parents are very strict with their child and they didn't realise that they can really make useful of the play time especially with their child. It is one of the quality time that they should spend with their child. Hopefully, the tips below will help us how to spend the quality moment.

For children, play is naturally enjoyable. And since it is their active engagement in things that interest them, play should be child-led, or at least child-inspired, for it to remain relevant and meaningful to them. Children at play are happily lost in themselves; they are in their own realm of wonder, exploration, and adventure, pulling parents in at times with a frequent “Let’s play, mom!” as an open invitation into that world.

As early as infancy, children immerse themselves in play activities with the purpose of making sense of the world around them. Play gives children the opportunity to learn and experience things themselves, which is vital for their development. Although peek-a-boo games seem pointless to adults, tots are awed by the surprise that awaits them as they see the suddenly emerging faces of people they love.

(Stages of Play)

During toddlerhood, children experience a motor-growth spurt that equips them to solitarily fiddle with anything they can get their hands on – be it a construction toy or the box from where it came.

Toddlers also love breaking into song, wiggling and jiggling to tunes, and imitating finger plays they are commonly exposed to.

Preschoolers begin extending their play to involve others, whether they bring others in at any stage of their game or they plan their game and its players’ way ahead. Their physical and motor skills allow them to widen their lay arena, from dramatic play to table games to outdoor pursuits.

School-age children start appreciating organized play – such as innovated songs and rhymes, games with rules, relays and other physical activities, sports and projects that they can accomplish over a certain time frame.

Play Perks:

Why the big fuss about playing? Play benefits the child in ways that might be a tad difficult for adults to imagine.

1. Play brings pure and utter joy.

A toddler who jumps into an empty box and runs around the house ‘driving a car’ shows the sheer happiness that play brings him or her. When children are asked what they did in school and they answer ‘play,’ it is a clear sign that these kids remember a feeling of genuine joy that is captured in this four-letter word.

2. Play fosters socio-emotional learning.

What does a ten-month-old baby who shrieks at the sight of her stuffed toy have in common with a ten-year-old boy who plays basketball with his friends? They both deal with their confidence as they choose to embark on their play activities. At the same time, they are displaying their independence in the decisions that they make. These two children are also internalizing social rules in their respective play situations: the baby waits patiently for her stuffed toy to appear, while the school-age child has to contend with an impending loss in a ball game.

3. Play hones physical and motor development.

Play often involves the use of the senses, the body, and the extremities. When children play, they exercise their bodies for physical strength, fluidity of movement, balance and coordination.

Perceptual-motor ability, or the capacity to coordinate what you perceive with how you move, is an essential skill that preschoolers need to develop. A three-year-old who is engrossed in digging, scooping, and pouring sand into a container must match his or her perception of the space in front of him or her with actual hand movements, so that he or she can successfully fulfill the motor activity.

4. Play facilitates cognitive learning.

Play is vital to the intellectual development of a child. We live in a symbolic world in which people need to decode words, actions, and numbers.

For young children, symbols do not naturally mean anything because they are just arbitrary representations of actual objects. The role of play is for the child to understand better cognitive concepts in ways that are enjoyable, real, concrete, and meaningful to them. For instance, through play, a child is able to comprehend that the equation 3 + 2 = 5 means ‘putting together’ his toy cars by lining them up in his makeshift parking lot. When he combines 2 triangles to make a square during block play, or writes down his score is a bowling game, the child is displaying what he knows about shapes and numbers.

Through play, the child is constructing his or her worldview by constantly working and reworking his understanding of concepts.

5. Play enhances language development.

Toddlers who are still grappling with words need to be immersed in oral language so they can imitate what they hear. They benefit from songs and rhymes that provide the basis for understanding how language works.

When these tots are playing with toys, adults model to them how language is used to label objects or describe an event. At play, preschoolers use language to interact, communicate ideas, and likewise learn from dialogues with more mature members of society.

6. Play encourages creativity.

Barney the dinosaur was right about using imagination to make things happen. A lump of Play-Doh suddenly turns into spaghetti with meat sauce and cheese; a small towel transforms into a cape that completes a superhero’s wardrobe; and a tin can serves as a drum that accompanies an aspiring rock artist. Play opens an entire avenue for children to express themselves, show what they know and how they feel, and to create their own masterpieces.

7. Play provides bonding opportunities.

Play is an important factor in child development. It provides for interaction, experimentation, and moral development. Here are some ways by which parents can encourage and support their children’s playtime.

- Let your child be the player-leader. Let children initiate their activity, set their own theme, choose the parameters where the play will take place. Play becomes a venue for children to express their feelings and be in control.

- Help them help themselves. When your 5-year-old asks for help, say, figuring out how to piece a puzzle together, stop yourself from coming to her rescue and first ask your child questions that allow him or her to help himself or herself. Say, “Where do you think this piece should go?” Afterward, commend his or her success.

- Play attention. Once you make a commitment to play with your child, watch for the following signals: Does he or she want you to actively play a part in the activity? Does he or she need encouragement? Is he or she tired or hungry? Does he or she need to take a break?

- Have a play plan. If you seem to have little time for playing with your child, consider using self-care chores to have fun with him or her. Also, get support from other people in your household, like older siblings, household help, or the child’s grandparents, so that they understand why play is important and how they should continue to encourage it.

Mmmm....it is not that difficult, huh?

The Magic Of Music, Toy Pianos, And Other Instruments

How we want to develop our children creativity? Most of us didn't know that we can develop through music. Here are some tips to all parent with young kids. I can be useful...

Music enchants children. Its magic reaches out to them even inside the womb. During the later parts of infancy, they almost always instinctively sway, bounce, or move their heads to its beat. Toddlers garble out nursery songs they hardly understand long before they can read, write, or talk coherently. And as they grow older, they learn how to make up songs.

As much as they love to listen, children love to create music. Whether it’s singing off-key, banging a rattle against the wall, or pounding on a toy piano, nothing can stop them from trying to imitate the different sounds of music.

Self-expression through music should be encouraged so kids may increase appreciation for it as they grow older. A way to do this is to provide musical instruments such as a tambourine or a toy piano. It’s also a good idea to play nursery songs in the background while a child is playing or drawing.

Musical Effects

Helping kids hold on to and increase their fondness of music will not only result in discovering talents. It will also bring positive effects to their well-being. Here are some key benefits that music can bring to children:

- Music encourages children to be more expressive. They can bang on their little drums when they’re mad or they can stroke the keys of their toy piano cheerfully when they’re happy.

- Music promotes self-esteem. When children realize that they can handle a musical instrument, sing a song aloud, or sway with the beat, they’ll feel proud of themselves and their abilities.

- Music gives knowledge. Constant exposure to music such as folk songs, praise music and nursery rhymes will make it easy for a child to understand values and feelings even before they begin to go to school. Parents should be ready to give answers when their children want song lyrics to be explained.

- Music inspires creativity. Because of what they hear, children may get inspired to explore other forms of art such as drawing or painting to further give life to a song. They may illustrate the complete cast of Old McDonald’s Farm or show how the Big Rock Candy Mountains appear in their minds. Because of the early exposure to a kid’s harp or a toy piano, a child may be motivated to write songs or compose music early on in life.

- Music develops communication skills. Getting better at the toy piano entails the same skills needed to learn how to read. Musical lyrics may help increase a child’s vocabulary. New ideas are learned through a song’s story line and kids can get better at articulating these ideas.

- Music helps children achieve goals. With the intent to master an instrument, a child learns the concept of staying focused to attain an objective. At an early age, they are already equipped with values that can help them become successful grown-ups.

But just like any other recreational means, music should not be imposed on your children. Teaching a child how to play a musical instrument or having him take part in voice lessons should not result in tantrums every time a session starts. Your child should love and enjoy musical activities in order for music to have a positive effect in your child’s life.

Children’s Furniture: Must-haves For Your Kid’s Bedroom!

What do you think about your child bedroom? Even us want our own bedroom to be cosy and lovely. Mmmm....Since that I am going to move to my own house definitely that I have to find some ideas how to decorate my child bedroom. Definitely because that I want Aish to be so cosy in his own room.

The bedroom is a place of sanctuary for most children. It can be a place where they can think freely, explore their creativity, discover hidden talents, read, or listen to music. That’s why, as a parent, it’s important to choose children’s furniture that your child can totally make use of.

Maximizing Space and Imagination

Make use of every bit of space available in the bedroom. Children love to store a lot of stuff, so there should be a place available for all your child’s knick knacks. Setting up a shelf or toy storage while maximizing space will ensure that your child’s bedroom is safe and comfortable.

Imagination is the element that will make your child’s bedroom fun and cheerful. You’ll be amazed at how your child can help if you’re lacking in this area. Let him or her describe the preferred colors, themes, and designs. Once you get the idea, finding the right children’s furniture and other decorations your child prefers should be easy.

More Than Just A Bedroom

Because we’ve established that children do more than just sleep in their rooms, you should consider buying children’s furniture that will fully support your kid’s activities.

Most children enjoy drawing and coloring or playing with dolls or action figures. Set up an activity area where your child can comfortably get into the action. Educational rugs or play mats are ideal for this part of your child’s bedroom.

If your child loves books, then setting up a reading nook is the way to go. This area needs to be inviting and comfortable. Provide a cozy chair or a soft rug and overstuffed pillows. Make sure that the lighting in this area is ideal. Keep a book shelf within your child’s reach.

Provide a shelf or cabinet that will serve as a display area. Your child will be able to show-off artwork and favorite pictures. This could also be a place to where trophies, collectibles, and other memorabilia are placed.

Hassle-free Storage Solutions

Keeping children’s bedroom clutter-free is a challenge every parent must face. It’s just a matter of finding a storage solution that is convenient for you and your child. In order to prevent children from just shoving everything under their beds when asked to clean their rooms, the arrangement below could work wonders:

1. Install a corkboard for photographs and artwork.

2. Provide a cabinet for display items. You can opt to have one built-in or you can pick a good one in children’s furniture stores.

3. Place attractive wicker baskets in corners where your child can dump his or her toys, books, and dirty clothes.

4. A roomy closet is recommended for easy storage of your child’s clothes, shoes, and sports gear.

Useful Tips When Out Furniture Shopping

Don’t immediately purchase an item that catches your or your child’s eye. Children’s furniture should be durable and can withstand a child’s constant flow of activity. So make sure you check the credibility of the manufacturer and the kind of material a particular desk or chair is made of.

Don’t give in right away to whatever your child wants. Consider the space of the bedroom as opposed to the gigantic shelf your kid is pointing at. You also need to determine how often your kid will be using a particular piece. When your decision is a no, make your child understand why.

Before going shopping, check out magazines and the Internet for photographs and decoration schemes. This will provide you a clearer view of what you want to get.

Buy at trusted children’s furniture stores. Do your homework and compare prices in advance to get the best deal. After all, you only want nothing but the best for your child.

Child's Creativity

How to develop our child creativity? Most of the parents are relying to the teachers. For me, we as the parent, we are the one who make the big impact to our child. We can develop their creativity through many ways. Belows are some of the tips.

Parents and teachers can and do have an effect on child's creativity. Creativity may be more influenced by environmental rather than genetic factors. In fact,it is promoted through the maintenance of a playful, jovial atmosphere that allows and supports the unconventional but at the same time distinguishes and elaborates on what is appropriate and useful. It develops when examples of different approaches are analyzed. It is more likely to thrive when adults express the idea that any problem can be worked out.

A characteristic noted about creative individuals that is worth mentioning is persistence. Those who display creativity often stick with an idea or problem well beyond at time when others get frustrated and quit. To assist your child to be more persistent, focus on conveying two attitudes. First, reflect the belief that no problem is essentially difficult. With further information or a change in strategy, perspective or persistence, any problem can be solved. Secondly, underline the concept that failure is a term related to situations, not people. Failure indicates a temporary state of affairs and only means that another method or more information and practice are needed.

Creativity is unique and the best way to recognize a child's creativity is to create a craft room.It facilitates a child not only explore it's talent but have fun as well. One has to plan this room in a way that the child loves being there and is stimulated to do some activity, craft and art to develop creativity and keep boredom away.

Child's creativity can be nurtured even as a toddler.It requires a great amount of time, patience and planning to keep toddlers occupied even for some time. The setting of the décor where the little one spends most of it's time should be pleasant. The wall should have stickers or murals of his/her favorite cartoon characters and the ceiling should be covered with glow stars or something of similar sort. This will work out during the story time when the child is put to sleep.The furniture should be placed at a height that can be reached by the child. The toys, craft materials etc can be placed in a place where the child can reach whenever he/she wants. It makes him/her independent and raises hi/her level of confidence as well as keeps him/her busy. Small children love scribbling on the wall. Border the scribbling with a wooden frame .It will look as though the little one's creation is framed.

When the child is slightly older, say around five to seven years of age, one wall of a room could be devoted to the child entirely. It could be left blank for the child to scribble on it, paint ,write poems or draw whatever he/she likes. Let the young one personalize it in any way he/she likes. If the child prefers, paint a story on the wall to fire his/her imagination. At this age, children at present spend their leisure hours playing games on the computer. The time allotted to play these games must be strictly monitored. The child must be encouraged to pick up a book, read it, and even narrate the story. They should be given a topic on which they can draw or create something using their imagination. Encourage letter writing which not only improves communication skills but also helps the child to keep in touch with relatives and friends. Craft items such as painting with wet paints, sticking certain pictures and creating a collage etc can bring out the creative genius in these children while keeping them busy. Board games can be handy when friends and classmates come along. These can be kept within easy reach on open shelves that can be reached by the children. If time permits, this is the right age to introduce the child to an adult game like chess.

To conclude in order to develop a child's creativity, expose him/her to a diversity of cultures, experiences, people, and ways of thinking. Make them aware of the fact that there are different ways to think about a problem. Instill confidence in the child to try new experiences within his/her age level abilities and expectations.

Protect Children!!

Available at : http://www.kidscape.org.uk/parents/paedophiles.shtml . Parents who contact Kidscape are worried about the best way to protect children, especially when they are out on their own. This leaflet http://www.kidscape.org.uk/download/index.asp> gives practical advice for keeping children safe and information on how paedophiles, people who sexual ly abuse children, target children.

Who are Paedophiles?
* Paedophiles may seem perfectly respectable and 'nice'. They are extremely cunning and clever at worming their way into your confidence so that you trust them alone with your children.
* Paedophiles do not necessarily look dirty, weird or creepy or act suspiciously - they often behave like everyone else and look 'normal'.
* Paedophiles come from all classes, professions, racial and religious backgrounds.
* The majority of known paedophiles are male, though some women abuse children.
* 66% of paedophiles are known to the child, 34% are strangers.

What paedophiles say
This information comes from the paedophiles themselves, who told Kidscape how they ensnare children.
* Paedophiles are good at making friends with children. They offer to teach them games, sports or how to play a musical instrument. They take them on outings, give them gifts, bribes, toys & money or treats and trick children into trusting them.
* Paedophiles often target single-parent families where mothers might be especially grateful for help with looking after the children.
* 48% of the paedophiles found their victims through babysitting.
* 30% of the paedophiles had each committed offences against 10 to 450 victims, 70% had between 1 to 10 victims.
* Paedophiles find victims by hanging round places children are likely > to go, such as:
* arcades
* school premises
* shopping centres
* amusement or theme parks
* playgrounds
* parks
* swimming baths
* fairs
* fast food chains

* Be suspicious if someone is more interested in your children than in you, someone who always wants to babysit, take your children on outings someone who wants to get your children alone.

What parents can do
* Check on anyone who is left in charge of your children or wants to spend time alone with them, especially babysitters. Talk (not just write) to other people they have worked for.
* Encourage discussions about personal safety, getting lost, and bullying by playing 'What if?' games with children.
* Practise the Kidscape rule "Yell, Run, Tell" with children so they feel confident about using safety strategies.
* Explain to children the difference between "safe" and "unsafe" secrets. A secret about a surprise birthday party is OK, but no one should ever ask them to keep kisses or touches secret.
* Buy your children a Travelcard and/or Phonecard so that they can always call you or get home.
* Arrange to have a family codeword. Tell your child that if anyone ever tries to collect them for you, the person will always know the codeword. "No Code, No Go".
* When visiting public places (shopping centres, funfairs) always arrange a meeting place with your child in case you get separated ("I will meet you outside Marks & Spencer" or "by the fountain").
* Most paedophiles are not strangers. Tell children that if anyone, even someone they know, touches them in a confusing or frightening way they should tell you.
Tell your children
* To be wary of public toilets and to go in with a friend, if possible. If anyone approaches you, get out fast. (Parents - don't be embarrassed to stand outside the toilet and shout in "Are you all right in there?" - puts paedophiles right off!)
* If someone you don't know speaks to you, pretend you haven't heard and walk quickly away.
* Never take sweets, presents, or lifts from people you don't know.
* Never go up to a car to give directions - keep away so that no one can get hold of you and you can run away.
* If something bad does happen to you, even if you have broken a rule, you should tell me about it and I will help sort things out. (One child was walking in a park when told not to and was molested she was afraid to tell because she had broken the rule about being in the park). Children should make a fuss!
* If someone tries to touch or grab you, shout "NO", get away as fast as you can and then tell an adult. Practise the Kidscape rule: "Yell, Run, Tell".
* Remember, if someone frightens you, it is okay to break rules, shout or make a fuss.
* Always run towards shops or places with people.
* If you think that you are being followed, go into a shop or knock on the door of a house - ask for help.
* Break any rule to keep safe. Even break a window to attract attention, if necessary.
Play safe
* Never play in dark or lonely places, or in empty streets and stairwells.
* Stay with friends or with a group and don't wander off on your own, even if you're playing hide and seek - hide with a friend.
* If you are in a shopping centre, arcade or disco and someone offers you money to do a job or errand, don't do it - it could be a trick.
* Don't walk to and from school on your own - team up with a friend or a group.
* Always tell your parents where you're going and when you'll be back.
Getting lost
* Learn your own address, telephone number and postcode.
* If you get lost, go into a shop or a place with lots of people and ask for help, or find a police officer, a security guard, or a traffic warden to ask. If you can't find a shop assistant or a person in a uniform, ask a man or a woman with children to help you
* Don't go into a house or office, or phonebox with anyone - wait outside while they telephone your parents or the police.
* Don't get into a car or accept a lift from anyone -say you'll wait for your parents or the police to fetch you.

TRAVELLING ALONE
* Travel in a train carriage with other people.
* Carry enough money for your return trip and never spend it on anything else.
* Work out what you would do if you missed your train or bus. How would you get home? Is there someone you could call?
Telephones
* Know how to use a public call box and how to contact your parents or whoever takes care of you.
* Know how to make an emergency 'phone call.
* You don't need money to make a reverse charge call (the person at the other end pays the bill).
* Carry a Phonecard so that you can always call home if you get stuck somewhere.
What if something happens?
* Be aware of changes in your child's behaviour which might indicate that something is not right. See Kidscape's Child Abuse: Signs and Symptoms <http://www.kidscape.org.uk/download/index.asp> leaflet.
* If your child doesn't want to be with someone, find out why. Children may say things like, "I don't want you to go out tonight", when they really mean "I don't want to be left with the babysitter".
* Stay calm and try not to transmit anger, shock or embarrassment to your child.
* Ensure that your child knows you believe her/him.
* Tell children it is NEVER their fault if someone abuses them.
* Praise your child for having told you and for 'getting through the ordeal'. Tell them you love them.
* Seek help for the child and yourself.

The Kidscape research study of paedophiles (sponsored by The Nuffield Foundation) is also available, upon request, from the above address. Kidscape is the first charity in the UK established specifically to teach children about keeping safe before they become victims of abuse or bullying. Kidscape's message is prevention.