Raymond Parenting

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Your Child In Your Back Yard

Posted March 29, 2011

Today feels like the first day of spring, at least in Calgary.  Parents will be anxious to send children outside to play, for a change.  Some kids will dash out and not look back.  Others, however, may not remember last summer and may need to be re-introduced to your yard.  Going out with your child will help speed this process along.  Greta P. gave me this idea as she recalled last summer when her three year old was afraid of birds, spiders and even ants! Here is how Greta tackled the problem.

"We walked hand in hand out into the yard on the first sunny day.  The snow was almost melted and we looked for grass (none) or sticks (a few), plus we found some rocks.  We toured the borders and I commented that this was where he kept his yellow truck last year.  We went into the garage and found his yellow, rusty truck.  Once we were in the garage he spotted a few other things that looked interesting like the rake, the hose and balls. I told him we can take the balls out but the rake and hose have to wait until the snow is all gone.  I asked him if we should check every day to see if the snow is melting.  He agreed, of course, and now we have a new ritual of going out right after lunch to measure the snow.  Slowly, we'll investigate green things growing, count the ants, give the spiders a new home and look for bird's nests.  I'm hoping that in a month or less, my son will be comfortable heading outside alone, on his own investigations.  Can't wait!"  (Thank you, Greta.)

 

Register now for Spring Seminars!

• April 7     Sleep from the Start (prenatal/postnatal)

• April 12   Sleep from Now On  (2 months to 4 years)

"I attended your Sleep seminar on February 8, 2011. I was the one with all the questions. The first day I wasn’t sure this was going to work for me and I thought to
myself (although sleep deprived) she is sleeping all the time when do I get

to be with her! But I can’t THANK you enough for helping me see what is best for my daughter she’s happy, smiley and babbles/sings all the time You’re right NOW the time I do get to spend with her in quality time, I’m so
happy and not tired that I want to play and be with her and I find I’m NOT
trying to put her in all the activity “machines” we have just to get a
break! Kitty Your an Angel!! Keep up your great work and I’m sure I’ll see
you in the other seminars as she grows". ....anonymous parent, February 2011

• April 19   Setting Healthy Limits Age 1-4 Years (discipline seminar)

Check out our new facebook page--hope you 'like' it!  (click here)

 

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Filed under: Play

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Aiming for Independent Play

Posted August 11, 2010

Are you constantly busy with your children, providing activities, driving them places, trying to stave off whining, boredom and temper tantrums?  If so, you may be exhausted!  When children are overly entertained and have not acquired the ability to play alone, they tend to become increasingly demanding and always look to the parent of caregiver to solve their boredom.

Teaching children from an early age to play independently is to give them a life-long skill.  To be able to entertain oneself with one's own thoughts and ideas leads a child toward a rich inner life.  A child who cannot play by herself must be constantly vigilant in an effort to cajole or whine her way toward finding a playmant, usually a parent or a caregiver.  Naturally, adults are the most interesting to play with because they are willing to lead the play and the child is often free to take a back seat.

Parents who want to encourage independent play for their child can begin early, by around 6-8 months.  Leave your baby sitting with a small basket of measuring spoons, plastic cups and suckable objects for 10-20 minutes at a time, 2-3 times a day. Now your child has the opportunity to relate to his toys without an adult directly present.  You may come back and forth occasionally, adding an item or idea; with a toddler, you might stop for a sip of pretend tea or give a kiss to a bear, but these interludes are brief and your child learns over time that the best ideas exist in his own head.

Sets of zoo animals, farm animals, play people, hats, containers, a little music and a tiny bowl of dry Cheerios, make the playtimes feel special.  For easy tidying, store each category of play props (toys) in individual baskets.

With this approach, you become the facilatator of your child's play, providing the props, the opportunity and the privacy without slipping into the rold of entertainer.  Regrouping the toys from time to time and interspersing these independent playtimes with story-reading, naps and mealtimes, means that by the end of the day you may even have enough energy left to entertain yourself - and admire your good parenting!

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Filed under: Daily Routines, Play

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Aiming for Independent Play

Posted August 11, 2010

Are you constantly busy with your children, providing activities, driving them places, trying to stave off whining, boredom and temper tantrums?  If so, you may be exhausted!  When children are overly entertained and have not acquired the ability to play alone, they tend to become increasingly demanding and always look to the parent of caregiver to solve their boredom.

Teaching children from an early age to play independently is to give them a life-long skill.  To be able to entertain oneself with one's own thoughts and ideas leads a child toward a rich inner life.  A child who cannot play by herself must be constantly vigilant in an effort to cajole or whine her way toward finding a playmant, usually a parent or a caregiver.  Naturally, adults are the most interesting to play with because they are willing to lead the play and the child is often free to take a back seat.

Parents who want to encourage independent play for their child can begin early, by around 6-8 months.  Leave your baby sitting with a small basket of measuring spoons, plastic cups and suckable objects for 10-20 minutes at a time, 2-3 times a day. Now your child has the opportunity to relate to his toys without an adult directly present.  You may come back and forth occasionally, adding an item or idea; with a toddler, you might stop for a sip of pretend tea or give a kiss to a bear, but these interludes are brief and your child learns over time that the best ideas exist in his own head.

Sets of zoo animals, farm animals, play people, hats, containers, a little music and a tiny bowl of dry Cheerios, make the playtimes feel special.  For easy tidying, store each category of play props (toys) in individual baskets.

With this approach, you become the facilatator of your child's play, providing the props, the opportunity and the privacy without slipping into the rold of entertainer.  Regrouping the toys from time to time and interspersing these independent playtimes with story-reading, naps and mealtimes, means that by the end of the day you may even have enough energy left to entertain yourself - and admire your good parenting!

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Filed under: Daily Routines, Play

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