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When parents begin to play with their children in a child-directed way, they may have some initial questions and concerns with this way of playing.  Let me just say again, this is a very normal!  A common question that parents often have when they begin to play with their children in a child-directed manner is, “What happens if my child wants to do something unsafe or destructive?”  Let’s have a closer look at this common question.

Why can’t I get my child interested in child-directed play with me? When parents begin to play with their children in a child-directed way, they may encounter some initial difficulties and concerns with this way of playing.  This is a very common and normal situation because you and your child are just getting used to interacting in a different way than you have been in past.

Why Identify My Child’s Feelings?

Helping your child learn about feelings (emotions) is something that every parent can do. When children have a good “feelings vocabulary,” they will be able to notice and to identify a variety of different feelings both in themselves and in others.

Parents play many important roles in their children’s lives. Some examples are caregiver, protector, play partner, teacher, disciplinarian, and nurturer. When we are in our nurturer role, we provide unconditional love and affection to our children. We provide emotional warmth. We become empathic supporters of our children, striving to understand their inner worlds.

What is Child-Directed Play? Before we look at child-directed play, let’s look at defining play itself. I like to look at play as a freely chosen activity that has no specific goal to be achieved, other than just enjoying the activity. For children, play is natural and is something most children engage in without having to be taught how to play. Over the years, child development experts have found that play in childhood is necessary for a child’s healthy intellectual, emotional, physical, and social development.