Set a Timer for Play
I have a couple of wordy posts in the pipeline...I just need to untangle some of my descriptions first. So till I get my language un-ka-fuddled...here's a quick idea that I'm using every day.
Set a timer (microwave, kitchen, oven, on a cellphone, whatever just something that beeps so no peeking at it along the way) for however long you have to really engage in some free play with your kiddo. And then go for it! See if you can follow where your little person leads for the whole time.
The first time I did this (last week), I set the timer for 1/2 hour and I was surprised at how much of a stretch it was to stay "in play" for that long without wandering off for "just a minute" to do some minor household chore, check email, make a call, start a meal, do dishes, etc, etc. AND we had a wonderful 1/2 hour in the back yard. Sometimes LP and I were fully engaged in the same activity (watching a butterfly, rolling in the grass) and other times I just was there and present while she dug in the planter box and reorganized rocks).
Yesterday when life was busy with this and that and a whatnot, I did it a couple of times for 5 to 10 minutes at a time. It seemed to support LP's independent play AND I eluded that mama-guilt that can come from saying "in a minute" over and over again.
Set a timer (microwave, kitchen, oven, on a cellphone, whatever just something that beeps so no peeking at it along the way) for however long you have to really engage in some free play with your kiddo. And then go for it! See if you can follow where your little person leads for the whole time.
The first time I did this (last week), I set the timer for 1/2 hour and I was surprised at how much of a stretch it was to stay "in play" for that long without wandering off for "just a minute" to do some minor household chore, check email, make a call, start a meal, do dishes, etc, etc. AND we had a wonderful 1/2 hour in the back yard. Sometimes LP and I were fully engaged in the same activity (watching a butterfly, rolling in the grass) and other times I just was there and present while she dug in the planter box and reorganized rocks).
Yesterday when life was busy with this and that and a whatnot, I did it a couple of times for 5 to 10 minutes at a time. It seemed to support LP's independent play AND I eluded that mama-guilt that can come from saying "in a minute" over and over again.
posted by Susan at
2:02 PM
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