What parents say

Many parents find it hard to fit in the time to play with their children. It can feel as if you're 'wasting time' when you should be getting on with the cleaning, the cooking and all the other things that have to be done. Other parents talk about how they feel silly or bored when they play with their children.

Nobody can spend all their time playing with their children - but the time you do spend playing and doing things together is time well spent.

And knowing how important play is for your child's learning can also help. Parents find their attitude changes when they start to notice what their children are getting out of play – and as a result they say they feel more motivated and less bored when playing with their children.

Here are some of the experiences of parents who joined in a project to support their children's early learning.

I'm quite logical and need a good reason to do things. I couldn't see the point of doing the same thing over and over again with my baby, like when she hands me something and I give it back and she hands it to me again.
Then I joined a Dads' group and the worker said "Well actually with repeating this activity which is probably boring you to tears, you're actually reinforcing the connections in your baby's brain and then it grows… because it's like a road and you're reinforcing a road and it stays there, so obviously your child is able to do more things from that."
That's really good. So now I can see the point and know that what I'm doing is actually making a difference and is important.
I went along to the parent and toddler play sessions at a local centre. I play more with my child now than I would have done if I hadn't gone. It made me not so worried about messy play. Before I was scared to give him pens or dough because I thought he was too young. He's a lot closer to me now because we do more things together and I understand him more.
Before the home visitor came, he wouldn't sit down and do things. He'd go off and cry. Now he will sit and read a book. She encouraged him to speak and talked to him as he has language difficulties. I can see now I need to speak to him more about what we're doing and so on.
I realised how much I tried to control her and do things for her. Now I know it's important that I encourage her independence – I now try to push her to do things for herself so she realises what she's capable of. I'm more positive and praise her more.

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Last updated: 10th December 2009 at 11:12:01