10 ADVANTAGES OF PLAY DATES
By the time your child is four years old, her circle of acquaintances would have increased a great deal. There may be a lot of children in your neighbourhood. She also comes in contact with a lot of children in school. Out of these your child might like a few of them to be her special friends and they must be equally fond of her. If that is so, your child might like to have regular play dates with them.
The onus is on the parents to take the trouble to contact one another and arrange for children’s get together or play dates regularly in each others homes or at other convenient meeting places.
ADVANTAGES:
1) SHARING:
Children, when they are smaller, are self centered and want to protect what is theirs. As they grow older, they want to be liked by others; so they learn to share things with each other when they are together.
2) PROBLEM SOLVING:
As they play together, they learn to solve problems in practical ways. If two children are quarrelling, then the others can bring peace between them; or in quiet play, if one child is struggling to fit a puzzle correctly, another child helps her to do it.
3) MORE TOYS TO PLAY WITH:
When you ask each child to bring a toy each, then each one gets a chance to play with a different toy during the time that they’re together.
4) EMOTIONALLY HELPED TO GROW:
As they play together, they give to each other affection as friends. If they quarrel, they make up just as quickly and they get release there and then. Emotions are not bottled up and allowed to explode at some later date.
5) CHILDREN LEARN TO RELATE:
Through play each child realizes that she can’t have her way all the time. So the children learn to give and take.
6) SOCIAL GRACES IMPROVE:
As they visit each others homes. In this matter, parents need to agree beforehand what particular social skill you want your children to learn together. For example, one Saturday you might want you children to learn manners while eating. Another Saturday you might want them to learn how to leave the toilet clean after use in another person’s house.
7) OUTDOOR PLAY:
Helps them release their pent up physical energies as they run, jump and scream at each other, and their bodies become healthier.
8) ENJOYMENT:
Being with her peers will give your child great enjoyment. They have so much to talk about! They find so much to laugh about.
9) TEAM WORK:
Improves as they meet together regularly to play and study together. Perhaps they can put up a little dance or skit for their parents.
10) PARENTS CAN ALSO COME TOGETHER:
With their children as the common bond. Lasting friendships have often been forged in this way. Parents can become support for each other.
Like everything in life one has to work hard at bringing each other and the children together for mutual benefit. One has to be patient and persistent for the good and growth of your children.
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