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You are here: Home / Dad / Simple tips for encouraging creative play

Simple tips for encouraging creative play

February 14, 2013 by GreatDad Writers Leave a Comment

There’s no doubt that playtime is an important part of your toddler’s development. Not only is this a fun activity, but it helps your little one learn and explore the surrounding world. Creative play is particularly beneficial for your kid’s mental and emotional growth. Here are a few ways to encourage imaginative playtime with your toddler.

Know when you’re needed
One of the most important parts of imaginative play is that you know when to join in and when to back off. While your little one may enjoy having you there playing with toys as well, true creative playtime often means leaving your toddler to exercise his or her imagination solo.

Use household items
Creativity can only go so far when using standard children’s toys, so consider providing your little one with some basic household objects to enjoy. Whether it’s a cardboard box, a few pots and pans or a measuring tape, let your child create new possibilities for these items.

Create a storyline
If it looks like your child may need a little help getting into a creative groove, consider helping to come up with a storyline. You could begin narrating an adventure of a brave knight exploring a castle made of blocks or a mythical creature living in a deep lake to get the ball rolling. Once your little one has caught on to the story, let him or her take over the action.

 

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Great Dad Talks is a series of conversations with experts on all aspects of the family adventure. With the perspective that “dads don’t always think like moms,” our mission is to support dad voices and our slightly different approaches to parenting. We’ll try to find solutions to every day challenges like getting kids off the couch and making STEM classes available for both boys and girls. But we’ll also tackle bigger issues when they come. The one main theme will be to support dads in the most important role of their lives that of being a great dad. Connect with us at greatdad.com and watch the video version of these podcasts at YouTube.com/greatdadnews

Spinning Out Family Stress with Michael Blair
byPaul Banas

Welcome to another episode of Great Dad Talks! This week, I sit down with life coach and former psychologist Michael Blair to explore modern tools for family harmony, emotional healing, and child development.

Michael shares the transformative power of his unique “spin” method—a tool rooted in Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP)—that helps kids, parents, and even whole families quickly change negative emotional patterns in just minutes. Listen in as Michael walks Paul through an anxiety-busting spin live, explains why dads’ involvement is critical to healthy families, and shares actionable tips on self-forgiveness and resilience.

Check out Michael’s website at blaircounselingandcoaching.com

Visit these links and embark on the path to becoming the best parent you can be:

– GreatDad.com/coaching 

– GreatDad.com/pq 

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