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.
6 Key Concepts for Child-Directed Play with Your 3-10 Year-old Child
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.