Have you ever stepped back to watch what really goes on when your children play? As psychologist Lawrence J. Cohen points out, play is children’s way of exploring the world, communicating deep feelings, getting close to those they care about, working through stressful situations, and simply blowing off steam. That’s why “playful parenting” is so important and so successful in building strong, close bonds between parents and children.
Through play we join our kids in “their world-and help them to:
– Express and understand complex emotions
– Break through shyness, anger, and fear
– Empower themselves and respect diversity
– Play their way through sibling rivalry
– Cooperate without power struggles
From eliciting a giggle during baby’s first game of peekaboo to cracking jokes with a teenager while hanging out at the mall, “Playful Parenting is a complete guide to using play to raise confident children. Written with love and humor, brimming with good advice and revealing anecdotes, and grounded in the latest research, this book” will make you laugh even as it makes you wise in the ways of being an effective, enthusiastic parent.
3 Comments
The author put in words the feelings I’ve always had about punishment.
He sees most ‘misbehaviour’ as just a matter of disconnection. It makes
perfect sense that rather than using punishment to deal with it – which
will in fact deepen the disconnection – we should rather try to
re-establish the connection.Â
He talks about power struggles and about parents who don’t like to
play, that are serious all the time or preoccupied and begs parents to
loosen up and play with the kids.
this book is awesome, its give you such a new insight into your child,
its makes you see things that they do everyday in an entirely new light!