The benefits of playing with parents

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Children love to play and it’s long been known that play has a huge number of benefits for children of all ages. Child development does not just come, however, from children playing alone, with friends or with siblings but also from playing with their parents. So, why exactly is it so important for parents to get involved at play time?

  1. Help develop their motor skills

Play allows children to improve many motor skills including hand-eye co-ordination, balance and agility. When a parent plays with their child they become a positive role model for their child to copy, and as such their skills will develop rapidly. Play encourages a physical connection and helps to improve flexibility and health, leading to an active life.

  1. More varied play

It’s wonderful for children to play with their friends and siblings, and interacting within their own age group is perfect for social development. It’s just as important, though, that children play with older individuals. Adults have the skills and experience to encourage a more mature level of play and therefore may introduce a more varied offering of games. Adults know so much more about the world than children and can offer a wider sense of imagination, helping a child’s boundaries to grow.

  1. Essential bonding

When mums and dads engage in play it boosts levels of oxytocin levels which has a positive effect on bonding and happiness. When parents play with their children it forms happy memories and allows for a unique friendship to develop within the parent-child relationship.

  1. The joy of play

Play is fun and relaxing and not only is it important for children to have that joy, but it’s important for parents too. In play, parents will experience laughter and happiness which is wonderful for children to witness and will encourage them to grow into happy people with fond memories of their childhood.

So, as you can see, play is far more important than just something children can do to pass the time. Indoor centres such as Little Giggles provide a safe setting that can allow parents and children to explore, play and imagine together.