A Fathers" Perspective on Play
The opportunity to create close associations with your child is one that should never be passed up lightly.
As a dad, I realized too late that when my children were young, I often prioritized work and sport above family play, believing that I could catch up or make time in the future.
I now understand that spending time playing together from the very earliest opportunity is an incredibly important part of parenting and caring for our children.
Many of us think that we will produce a well grounded and contented individual just because we are family.
Any gaps will be filled by school, church or other community organizations.
I did not think that the development of emotional and social understanding, the creation of language skills and the establishment of physical attributes and motor control, required specific assistance, other than that given daily by their mother at home.
I realize now that the full development of our children does not just happen well, without effort and support by all significant adults, especially fathers.
However skilled we may be, most parents still require help in creating the environment that provides the opportunity to support and educate our children, at the same time as having lots of fun and building strong relationships that last for ever.
It has been clinically proven that children do learn through well planned play.
On reflection, I now know that parents sometimes feel self conscious when participating in various activities and games with their children.
I recognize now that children become totally self absorbed in the activity itself and are not judging us as an adult.
How often did I feel ridiculous or shy, without need? Now I would advise all young and "old" men alike, to dispense with any inhibitions and to engage fully with the idea of being a pirate, or a farmer, or a train driver, or whatever.
- Take time to play now before children grow too old.
- Family, work, sport and leisure can be managed simultaneously.
- Men are important in the lives and growth of very young children.
- Relationships develop from an early age and are built upon.
- Positive and close associations develop through doing things together and not by talking at a child.
"Dance like nobody's watching; love like you've never been hurt.
Sing like nobody's listening; live like it's heaven on earth", is a well known quotation by Mark Twain.
It should become our motto when preparing to play with children.
Fathers and grandfathers, it is never too late to start to make connections.
What a fantastic legacy we leave behind when children remember the magic of their youth with us: When they pass on to future generations the games, experiments, sports and thoughts that we instilled: When they recall with fondness the time spent with us discussing a range of topics that developed naturally side by side in play: When they realize that we helped instill a confidence to face their changing world: When they see us as being one with them and an integral part of their childhood.
As a dad, I realized too late that when my children were young, I often prioritized work and sport above family play, believing that I could catch up or make time in the future.
I now understand that spending time playing together from the very earliest opportunity is an incredibly important part of parenting and caring for our children.
Many of us think that we will produce a well grounded and contented individual just because we are family.
Any gaps will be filled by school, church or other community organizations.
I did not think that the development of emotional and social understanding, the creation of language skills and the establishment of physical attributes and motor control, required specific assistance, other than that given daily by their mother at home.
I realize now that the full development of our children does not just happen well, without effort and support by all significant adults, especially fathers.
However skilled we may be, most parents still require help in creating the environment that provides the opportunity to support and educate our children, at the same time as having lots of fun and building strong relationships that last for ever.
It has been clinically proven that children do learn through well planned play.
On reflection, I now know that parents sometimes feel self conscious when participating in various activities and games with their children.
I recognize now that children become totally self absorbed in the activity itself and are not judging us as an adult.
How often did I feel ridiculous or shy, without need? Now I would advise all young and "old" men alike, to dispense with any inhibitions and to engage fully with the idea of being a pirate, or a farmer, or a train driver, or whatever.
- Take time to play now before children grow too old.
- Family, work, sport and leisure can be managed simultaneously.
- Men are important in the lives and growth of very young children.
- Relationships develop from an early age and are built upon.
- Positive and close associations develop through doing things together and not by talking at a child.
"Dance like nobody's watching; love like you've never been hurt.
Sing like nobody's listening; live like it's heaven on earth", is a well known quotation by Mark Twain.
It should become our motto when preparing to play with children.
Fathers and grandfathers, it is never too late to start to make connections.
What a fantastic legacy we leave behind when children remember the magic of their youth with us: When they pass on to future generations the games, experiments, sports and thoughts that we instilled: When they recall with fondness the time spent with us discussing a range of topics that developed naturally side by side in play: When they realize that we helped instill a confidence to face their changing world: When they see us as being one with them and an integral part of their childhood.
