"My boy of 6 years play too much. He is ready to jump around from dawn till dusk. In fact, our neighbours are complaining bitterly about his disturbances and it affects mostly those living on the first floor. It gets worse while watching cartoons because he makes sure he does everything dramatized in the cartoon network. What should I do? From a worried mum.
"My 8 years old play too much and pays less attentions to his studies and this affects his academic performance in school. What should I do? From a worried Dad.
"My 7 years old girl play too much that sometimes she forgets to eat. What can be done? From anxious grandma. And so on.
As a parent you must know that in children's world, play is an activity that cannot be erased from the children checklist. It content ranks high in promoting children health and development. It enhances their physical growth, mental and psychological capabilities. The tendency to play uncontrollably is inherent in every child. Play is a spontaneous activity for fun and enjoyment, children love it. At such, you cannot stop a child from playing, you can only regulate or control the degree at which he plays. Playing is inevitable!
More so, Play is the highest form of research, most especially meaningful play. That is, a coordinated kind of play makes children more creative and cognitive, they learn basic life skills that promotes their intelligence quotient and positive attitudes towards life. Note that, excessive and addictive play is not good either. For it sometimes makes children disoriented, and the effect is often seen in their academic performances or sometimes in their incoherent or forgetful dispositions.
Here are some practical strategies that will help you in handling children that has the tendency to play too much:
Establish guiding rules at home
These rules will govern every activities at home. Make sure these rules are reasonable enough. For instance time for homework, studying, assignment, eating, sleeping, viewing the television, playing etc. Call them together and explain all these rules to them and make sure they understand it. Attach little consequences to each rules in order to make it very effective and explain all the consequences from A-z using children language. Make sure they understand the consequences attached to each rules if breached and why.
Take for example, if rule number one is, No television (Cartoon) before homework or assignment, and you got back from work and caught Michael, your son, viewing the television and he is yet to do his school homework or assignment, you don't need to start yelling or shouting. To address this, you can cancel every television privileges for 12-24 hours. This is what some parents mean by "being grounded". This will serve as a deterrent to rules broken. There shouldn't be any lag time; enforce it immediately. The next day he will make sure he finished doing his homework or assignment before turning on the television set.
Make Creative materials available at home
Get arts and crafts materials, instead of them playing uncontrollably. Engaged them in drama, creative writing, arts and drawing at home. Let them expend their energies experimenting with these materials, you must be ready to clean up the mess by the time they are done.
Cartoons and Documentaries
Some of their Cartoons and children movies should involve teaching them how to read, spell, and solve. Also, encourage them to view educative documentaries. Sometimes join them in watching some of their favourites cartoons and movies. This gesture intensifies bonding between a parent and a child, I can assure it is fun. The connection is very important for their general wellbeing.
Educative stories and bible studies
Life stories and bible studies will be helpful. Engage them by telling them different histories or fictitious tales that are very interesting and educative. Trust me children are very good listeners. More so, bible studies, spelling bees and quiz should be organized at home, this will help them in character formation, values building and complete development. Make out time for this!
Errands
Engage them in errands. Trust me they can make good apprentices, integrate them properly into it and see how resourceful and helpful they could be. They are very handy in gardening, mopping, shopping, washing, cooking, meal preparation etc.
I hope all these helps you in handling children who play too much?
Please share the methods you are using in controlling your kids at the commentary section so that other parents will learn from you.
Cheers.
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