Daddy, Playdate with your kids!
Playing with kids daily can improve their focus
Please note that this captures a translation for an article written by Ojin Kwon, a founder of Daddy School in Korea in http://babytree.hani.co.kr
Focus is one of the most important life skills. When you drive highway, if you don’t focus then you may lose your exit. Then how did the strength of focus come out? The author says it is coming out of play. Play is a training method for focus. When dad plays 30 mins. with kids, then it is an investment of 30 mins. of focus. When dad plays 1 hr. with kids, then it is an investment of 1 hr. of focus. This kind of play not only remains in brain but also stimulates 5 senses and your body will remember that.
Spontaneous play of any kind can make the kids enjoy the moment fully. The play does not have to be related to a specific goal like science or math concept. The simple play like pillow fight can make your mind stretch full length to be immersed in the moment. If you want to theme it with specific purpose, then the play is going to become stress for both you and kids then it is not going to last long.
The key of the playdate is doing it everyday. I know you had a long day at work and the last thing to do is going to be to play with kids. But, the unstructured play with kids as daily activity is best way to strengthen your ties to kids and improve their development.
We are spending less and less time with kids. We are sending kids to learn sports, music or martial arts etc. ( I am guilty here too. And I am providing that kind of service to parents at http://greensprout.co) The more kids have spontaneous simple plays the better their focus would be.
Author, who call himself play based educator, shared his experience with playing with his son. He played with sons everyday and his son became a college student. According to him, his son is very good at focusing on thing if he makes up mind. In 3 months from start, he can become semi-expert level on anything he starts learning. He increased 8 aquariums with 300 fishes when he decided to raise fish. He exceeded his dad on photography skill in 3 months in middle school age.
Here are the tips on how to make the play more effective.
- Use any materials at home, paper, pillow, cardboard box etc.
- Play should be easy. If challenging to organize or learn, then it is not a play
- Want to be a daddy good at playdate? Do the followings.
- 1. Use loud voice
- 2. Use exaggerated motions like in hollywood action movies
- 3. Add adlib on each actions to engage
If you think your child is not able to focus, don’t dispair. Play with your kids with full heart and your mind. Then they will be engaged and get motivated.
Note: This also applies to mommy too. ;-)
