Are play dates essential?
According to Fe Nogra-Abog a specialist in early childhood development programs of the UNICEF, there are a lot of people in the Philippines who think that just because children eat well and are in good health condition, they are “okay”. Some people do not realize that play is important in order to “feed the mind”.
There has been a lot of effort from private and public institutions to provide adequate services to foster better learning and development in Filipino children. Most of the time, these services are scarce and their quality can be quite below the standards, according to ChildFund.org. It is high time that parents take charge and build opportunities to boost their child’s learning through play and interaction with others through play dates.
Yes, play dates are essential in a child’s development. Here are some tips on how to organize play dates with your child:
Start small. First time play dates can be very tricky, especially for children who may not have regular interaction with other children. Invite one child for the first play date and see how your child reacts. Once your child has shown signs that s/he is welcoming the other child in his/her personal bubble, then give it a few more play dates and then you can invite another child. Eventually, you will build a big play date group wherein everyone is comfortable with everyone else. Managing a small group will also be easier for parents too.
The goal of play dates is to learn and grow in a collective manner. It is then very important that your child has play dates with children of the same age. This will help them all grow and learn together, be aware that there are others of the same age as them, and share in the same interests, skills, and capabilities that they have.
Make sure that you have age appropriate toys on hand. Ask your child what toy s/he wants to share to the other children and then keep the rest. Tell the other parent to do the same with his/her child. This way, they can learn the value of sharing and taking care of other people’s things.
A play date at home is the ideal set up. This can make the child feel that everything is familiar and so s/he can focus on playing, learning, and getting to know the other children. However, when the play date group becomes big and the space is not enough, it is highly recommended that you move to another place. It can be a park or a playground. Practice safety and security measures at all times if you decide to go to a public place.
Play dates are not just about the children. It is about the parents getting together too. Get to know the other parents and ask about their experiences and stories in child rearing. Know more about other parents’ plights and great moments and this will make you feel that you are not alone and that you are a part of a greater scheme to foster the development of a child that can bring change into the world in the future.
