Questions tagged [play]
Activity engaged for fun, recreation or enjoyment. For time spent having fun, use [play-time]. See also: [games].
38
questions
3
votes
2
answers
177
views
Five Year old structured playing
My child, who will be five soon, enjoys structured play more than unstructured play. For example, he loves puzzles because they have a clear goal and a right way to complete them. He does not like ...
- 205
4
votes
1
answer
277
views
How rough can rough-housing get for a toddler?
My daughter is almost 16 months old. Last night I was holding her with her back to my chest and my arms around her chest and swinging her lower body so that her legs swung up by almost 90 degrees. ...
- 353
7
votes
1
answer
816
views
Is there such a thing as too much machine time?
My 1 year-old toddler is addicted to the Roomba. First thing when I walk in the room, he points to the Roomba and wants me to pull it out. He'll push the button to start it, and will watch it ...
- 731
2
votes
1
answer
394
views
Teaching an 8 year old that he doesn't always get to dictate exactly how we play?
My nephew is 7 years old and is use to leading the games and make believe we play. He often decides what games we should play and exactly how he wants to play it, down to telling me what I should say ...
- 3,867
4
votes
5
answers
474
views
How do we help 2 yo play independently when we’re busy?
My wife and I have a 2 year old boy. He's very attached to my wife / his mom. He's typically happy to play on his own, as long as we're nearby. But if we go into the kitchen (next room over) to cook, ...
- 187
3
votes
1
answer
197
views
What's the best way to develop an (almost) 2yo's mind that loves puzzles?
My son is almost 2 and he loves puzzles and puzzle type toys. Obviously I can buy him more toys like this but am curious as to other ways to encourage him to develop to the best of his potential.
...
- 31
0
votes
1
answer
138
views
Which models / techniques could help me accelerate my child's intellectual development? [closed]
this is my first question here, thanks for having me :)
Apologies if this question seems to be a little bit subjective, let me try and more clearly define what I'm asking.
My first child (daughter) ...
- 75
1
vote
1
answer
181
views
Games to play with child just under one year
I would like to know what games to play with a child just under one year. I have no idea. Where can I get some ideas from. I would like my child to learn something. I have searched on YouTube but ...
1
vote
3
answers
297
views
At what age is it appropriate to begin structured physical activity?
At what age is it appropriate to provide any real meaningful "instruction" in physical activity?
My specific issue:
Falling and Rolling / Somersaults
My biggest concern is a 2-year-old who ends ...
- 1,161
7
votes
4
answers
300
views
Is my child's cooperativity a trait or a choice?
My wife and I are about to have a child. We wanted to know, through experience or studies, if we can influence how cooperative our child can be. She believes that it is something he can learn through ...
- 173
2
votes
2
answers
26k
views
Can a 7-month-old baby be lifted upside down?
Recently saw a video by a nurse swinging a baby probably under 1 year holding baby's legs.
Is it safe to lift 7-month-old girl baby using the legs if the baby enjoys?
- 121
0
votes
1
answer
167
views
6 month old hitting her head on the floor when turning over onto her back
She just learned how to turn from on-the-stomach to on-the back, but since she's still new at it, she would hit her head onto the floor on her way down (with a soft playmat on top, but still not that ...
8
votes
4
answers
841
views
Should I play Minecraft with my kids?
All three of my sons, who are elementary-aged, enjoy playing Minecraft. We have two computers and two accounts, so we can play in multi-player worlds. They really seem to like it when I play with them ...
- 191
11
votes
5
answers
2k
views
Should a parent stop "destructive play"?
When playing with some younger nephews they like to destroy things that people have made such as a tower of blocks, drawings someone made, etc. They do so because they find it funny and probably like ...
- 298
5
votes
3
answers
2k
views
What age should you start enforcing board game rules?
I have a few younger nephews that enjoy playing board games. Some obey the rules and actually want to play the real game but some younger ones just want to play "their own game". I know that teaching ...
- 298
9
votes
2
answers
464
views
How to "get to know" my girlfriend's toddler?
My girlfriend, who I just recently got together with, has a daughter who will soon turn three. I would like to be a good stepfather to the girl, but I have very little experience of toddlers, and don'...
- 193
0
votes
3
answers
442
views
The children are making home messy
I have 2 kids. 3.5 yrs old girl and 10 month boy. We live in apartment.
Daily my kids used to make mess in whole house. What I mean my "mess" is that they put their toys everywhere, drag their ...
- 111
1
vote
0
answers
230
views
What to do when my 4-year-old daughter "plays doctor" with her cousin of almost the same age? [duplicate]
My 4-year-old daughter "played doctor" with her cousin, who was only a few months older than her at the time. I didn't know what was going on, I just figured they found something quiet to do, but ...
- 11
9
votes
3
answers
3k
views
Why is the 'floor is lava' game so ubiquitious?
It seems that the 'floor is lava' game (game is to not touch the floor, the children must get around by climbing on furniture instead) is developed by most children.
My question is how it is so many ...
- 530
4
votes
1
answer
764
views
Should I allow my preschooler to play with other parents at the playground?
My 4 year old daughter played with another parent and his son (around 3) at the playground. They started jumping on the dad's thighs as he was sitting on the ground, so the play was physical for a ...
- 143
7
votes
5
answers
2k
views
How to keep a 2 year old toddler entertained throughout the day?
The child is 2 years 3 months old, and she loves following 4 activities:
Getting read books.
Making sketches with me.
Going outside to play.
Watching cartoons on TV.
The problem is that these ...
- 6,344
9
votes
2
answers
380
views
How competitive or forgiving to be when playing games against my own kids
When playing games against my own kids (sports, cards, board games), I am never sure how competitive should I be.
I am asking this regarding to two issues: level of play and rules observance.
Level ...
- 91
4
votes
2
answers
11k
views
What's a good age for a "penny skateboard"?
My two kids, ages 4 and 6, are reasonably active and coordinated. In general, what is a good age to get children started playing on a skateboard (such as a "penny board", a cheap and small skateboard)?...
- 259
2
votes
2
answers
338
views
What would be a reason for a child with good reading skills to "pretend-read" stuff?
My child (6), before she learned reading for real, had a habit of "reading" things like toy instructions, or promotional fliers, etc... - we joked that she learned to read from my T-shirts :)
What ...
- 6,031
6
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Encouraging older brother to play with younger brother
I have two children, 33 months and 14 months old. They're both tall for their age, very physical types; climbing, running, etc. They both like to play with vehicles of all sorts, balls, ride on ...
- 61.8k
1
vote
1
answer
205
views
When can I start to let our son play with his friends unattended?
Our son is 2.5 years. He has a high interest in cars and going outside of the house. Every day, whether it is in the morning or afternoon, he always ask us to get out of the house. If we have time, we ...
- 1,559
7
votes
3
answers
14k
views
Four year old does not play with toys
My four year old son pretty much doesn't play. I mean, he will usually when he has another child to play with but overall, throughout the week he doesn't play.
It's driving me crazy because he seems '...
- 79
9
votes
6
answers
34k
views
Loud Screaming to attract attention
Our 6 month baby screams at top of her throat to get attention , as soon as we resume playing with her she smiles and plays and she wants to play all day along which is not possible , so how to deal ...
- 1,197
10
votes
2
answers
335
views
Can a 17-month old really appreciate humour/irony?
For at least a few weeks now our 17-month old daughter has enjoyed playing with teddies and dolls, especially putting them into situations which she experiences. For example she'll want to brush their ...
- 1,034
-1
votes
1
answer
337
views
Is it allowed to play with unfamiliar child? [closed]
Is it OK for an adult to join or start a game with some unfamiliar children (if they don't object)?
- 19
5
votes
1
answer
216
views
How do you address a child who cries and wants to play with everything?
When we have dinner, our daughter will sit on her chair for 1 minute, and then she will go up to desk and start to play with plates and forks and food and ...
When we want to watch film or TV, she ...
18
votes
6
answers
3k
views
Being good or not at playing with kids
I noticed that some of my friends naturally play with any kids including mine: they have no difficulty finding anything funny to do to them or with them and make them laugh and have fun. By contrast, ...
- 301
5
votes
2
answers
864
views
Signs a child is "over scheduled"?
I read all over that kids like routine but how can you tell if they are "over scheduled"? But I also read it is good to take your kids out and "explore". I have lately been taking my child to story ...
- 3,160
11
votes
3
answers
8k
views
Encouraging my 2-year-old to play independently
My little boy is 2½, and has never been very good at playing by himself.
When we take him to play-groups he won't ever go more than a few feet away from us at any time; At a party last week, he ...
- 2,203
36
votes
6
answers
6k
views
How do you handle unsupervised, poorly behaved children in public play areas?
This is closely related to this question. However, that primarily deals with interactions at relatively controlled, private functions. This question is more focused on the feeding-frenzy style chaos ...
user420
10
votes
8
answers
9k
views
Plane activities for little ones
I am taking four children ages 2,3,4, and 8 on a 4+ hour plane ride. Ideas for entertaining them WITHOUT plugging them in for the entire time would be much appreciated. We have the basics, crayons, ...
- 7,882
12
votes
4
answers
795
views
How to promote individual play for a toddler?
Does anyone have any tips on how to promote independent play, so our son will learn to (or get used to) play by himself?
Our son is quite a demanding child who is constantly asking us to play with ...
- 121
6
votes
2
answers
405
views
What are some outdoor activities that a toddler can be engaged in while I'm working outside in the garden/yard?
My son, 2-3 years old, enjoys being outside with me but can sometimes get in the way of the work I am trying to do. If I am patient enough we both enjoy it, if not it turns sour for both of us. I ...
- 2,723