"Play is doing an activity that has no end goal other than the fact that it is fun." -Charlie Todd
Check out Dr. Stuart Brown's organization National Institute for Play.
"Big body play supports children’s physical development but it also supports the development of children’s social awareness, emotional thinking, and language skills." Read the whole article here.
When our littles are in distress our natural instinct is to make their pain ago away. We say things like "It's OK," "Don't Cry," or "You'll be fine." We do this with the best of intentions, but we end up communicating to our children that uncomfortable feelings are not acceptable. Instead try validating your child's feelings by making a reflective statement. "That was scary." "You're worried about that." "That hurt a lot." By making these statements your child will feel heard and understood. This may also invite your kiddo to talk more with you about his or her emotions, which is a great way to release big feelings.
