Child Doll
Sunday, April 30th, 2006

Early Child Development: Family Play Time
Did you know that you are your child’s first playmate? Emotional self-regulation skills, social skills, and relationship skills come from that early bond you form with your child. One of the challenges for so many parents is that they are now adults and have forgotten how to play. They are caught up with serious things like paying bills, working, managing the house, and raising children. However, playing with your child is “seriously” necessary.
Play allows a parent and child to bond and form a secure attachment. This attachment provides the child with a basis for a happy, healthy life. The trick to playing with your child, however, is two-fold. Firstly, you have to be able to let your “adult” responsibilities go for 30-minutes so that you can play and be present. Secondly, you have to enter the child’s world, literally and figuratively, and discover your “inner” child.
Here are five simple steps to help you let go of the heavy world of responsibilities and play with your child:
- Acknowledge that play is as important as the bills, the dishes, dinnertime, and work.
- Use your own emotional self-regulation skills to allow your adult stresses to fade away when you are playing with your child. Tell yourself, “This is important. I’m going to be in the here and now. Worrying about anything else during playtime doesn’t help me get those things done nor does it help my relationship with my child.”
- Take deep breaths anytime you feel physical stress. The breathing will allow you to relax.
- Smile and laugh even if you don’t feel like it at first because we know that pretending that you’re having fun actually produces real fun!
- Play! For some of you, it has been a long time since you picked up a block, a doll or a racecar. Don’t fret, you can awake the child within. In order to play with your child, however, it’s best to understand the developmental stages of your child so that your expectation matches your experience.
- A baby plays through close interaction. All the goo-goo and ga-ga baby talk and physical connection helps your baby bond to you.
- A toddler begins with “parallel play”. That means you basically play side by side with your child. Your presence is still necessary but don’t expect much interaction.
- Preschoolers will interactively play. You could have a doll and your child could have a doll and those dolls might talk to one another! You must remember, though, that your child will still direct your play. You are but a puppet allowing them to play out their imagination and they will love you forever for the time and effort you give.
- Elementary age children might let you be a creative member in playtime. As your child shows increasing independence in play, you may feel inclined to stop playing. It’s important to understand that playing is still essential to your child and to your relationship.
- By the time your child is a teenager, all those wonderful years playing with your child will really pay off. I find my “playtime” with my teenager is still incredibly fun.
It is difficult to take time every day to play with your child. Although it is ideal to have daily playtime, weekly “playdates” are good too. Teaching a child that life is fun and playful rather than rushed and tense is so much better, wouldn’t you agree? The time and effort you put into playing with your child now will make a world of difference in your relationship later.
Copyright 2008 Parent Education Group - Reprints Accepted - Two links must be active in the bio.
About the Author
Laura Doerflinger, MS, a licensed mental health counselor, is the Executive Director of the Parent Education Group at http://www.familyauthority.com/ and the author of the audio book, Emotionally Balanced Parenting.
LD: Part One
![]() |
![]() VINTAGE 1983 CABBAGE PATCH KIDS BACK BABY CARRIER US $4.99
|
![]() VINTAGE CABBAGE PATCH KIDS PINK WHITE DRESS PANTIES US $8.99
|
![]() BEAUTIFUL HAND KNIT SCARECROW DOLL 17 US $8.00
|
![]() Barbie Doll Clothes Accessory 3 pair Fashion Shoes NEW US $.99
|
![]() JESMAR CABBAGE PATCH KID DOLL 4 PACI GIRL BLONDE GREEN US $23.23
|
![]() Fairytale Barbie Princess Doll Tiara For You Birthday US $7.99
|
![]() Awesome Asian Face Pauline Porcelain doll MARILEE US $29.99
|
![]() Doll Crafter Magazines 1990 Lot 11 Issues with Patterns US $5.99
|
![]() Barbie Doll Clothes Accessory Fashion Baby Carriage NEW US $.99
|
![]() Precious Moments Sulu Alaska Children of the World 1994 US $9.99
|
![]() pink dress shoes fit Kelly dolls Barbie sister US $.99
|
![]() JESMAR CABBAGE PATCH KID DOLL 4 PACI BROWN HAIR EYES US $26.32
|
![]() Vintage 1966 Madam Alexander Doll w Pastel Sailor Dress US $9.99
|
![]() Barbie Doll Clothes A Casual WearA Shoes Good Gift NEW US $.99
|
![]() Fairytale Barbie Princess Doll Aurora Rapunzel US $7.99
|
![]() American Girl Doll Samantha White Nightgown Nellie Kit US $10.05
|
![]() Shirley Temple Paper Dolls in Full Color US $5.00
|
![]() Wooden Dollhouse Miniatures ROCK TIME STORE MUSIC WORLD US $.96
|
![]() American Girl Doll Felicity Meet Dress Lavendar NEW US $10.67
|
![]() American Girl Doll Kaileys Boogie Board Case Retired US $.99
|
![]() PLAY ALONG CABBAGE PATCH DOLL TEETH BLONDE W FRECKLES US $5.00
|
![]() cabbage patch poseable kids 3 1984 85 still in boxes US $7.99
|
![]() 1997 Barbie as Cinderella Collector Edition US $15.35
|
![]() American Girl Scout Uniform Pleasant CO New Retired 96 US $7.38
|
![]() 1972 Holly Hobbie Cake Plate 1975 Pan 1974 Figurine US $14.99
|
![]() American Girl Doll Field Trip Outfit Retired 2002 Mia US $8.07
|
![]() Dollhouse DIY Kits Miniature Child Gift Christmas Eve US $7.99
|
![]() 100 New Dollhouse DIY Kits Miniature Toy Bathroom US $7.99
|
![]() Teal Brown Hat 18 Doll Clothes Fits American Girl US $4.99
|
![]() Cabbage Patch Kids Doll {Miniature Baby} Mattel NEW US $2.99
|
![]() Matching Teal Hats Child Doll Clothes Fit American Girl US $25.99
|
![]() Hasbro Destinys Child Beyonce Doll US $9.99
|
![]() Ex Co American Girl Ragini 6pc Paper Doll Playset 18 US $.99
|
![]() Ex Co American Girl Sefako 6pc Paper Doll Playset 23 US $.99
|
![]() New Co American Girl Falon 9pc Paper Doll Playset 15 US $.99
|
![]() Purple Swimsuit 18 Doll Clothes Fits American Girl US $6.50
|
![]() NEW Baby Alive 10 Pkgs Juices 10 Pkgs Food Mixies US $6.99
|
![]() American Girl Stephanie 6pc Paper Doll Playset 28 US $.99
|
![]() American Girl Marisha 8pc Paper Doll Playset 35 Kore US $.99
|
![]() Disney Princess Friends Cinderella Doll Barbie NIB US $12.99
|
| Powered by phpBay Pro |
![]() |
Cloud b Sleep Sheep On The Go - Travel Sound Machine with Four Soothing Sounds |
![]() |
Schylling - Pink Jewel Jewelry Box |
![]() |
Schylling Metal Pot Holder Loom |
![]() |
Sesame Songs - Sing Yourself Silly! |
![]() |
Sesame Street: Guess That Shape and Color |
![]() |
Sesame Street - Sing Along |
| Meet the Raisins/With Doll [VHS] | |
![]() |
St. Bear's Dolls Hospital / The Little Toy Soldier |
| Corduroy Doll/Video Combo [VHS] | |
![]() |
Little Spider (Finger Puppet Book) |
![]() |
Doll Cradle Woodworking Plan |
![]() |
Brewster Bratz Pixiez Border |
![]() |
Pinocchio (Two-Disc 70th Anniversary Platinum Edition) |
![]() |
Sesame Street - The Best of Elmo |
![]() |
9 Inch Abby Cadabby Bendable Poseable Plush Sesame Street Stuffed Doll by Gund |
![]() |
Disney Princess- Belle Petite Doll Cake Topper |
![]() |
Barbie & the Diamond Castle Heart Cupcake Rings & Pics 12 Pk |
![]() |
Mini Doll mp3/iPod/computer speaker sound blasting - MONKEY + FREE BONUS micro fiber cloth 6.5" X 5.5" - RANDOM COLOR |
![]() |
Mini Doll mp3/iPod/computer speaker sound blasting - WHITE + FREE BONUS micro fiber cloth 6.5" X 5.5" - RANDOM COLOR |
![]() |
Mini Doll mp3/iPod/computer speaker sound blasting - STARGIRL + FREE BONUS - Micro SD / TF card reader - YELLOW |


US $4.99

























































