May All About Parenting Blog Carnival: Kids and Play

Welcome to our first edition of the All About Parenting blog carnival. I hope you have as much fun reading their posts as I did.  I think the parenting journey is so much more fun when you can share it with others.

The weather is warming up in my part of the world and I couldn't be happier to get out of the house. My kids are equally thrilled to run around the back yard, play on the swing set and just be free. I have been kicking around the idea of starting a small garden. I was thinking that my kids are a bit young to appreciate it this year, but Brenda Emmet's post at Her Gardening Blog has given me some ideas for getting them involved.

This is also the time of year when a lot of our normal activities are on hiatus. When I read Joanne Ruscella's post at SAHM I Am, I started thinking that it might be a good time to start putting together a summer plan. My kids are too young for most clubs, but if yours are a bit older, you'll want to check out what Heidi Coghlan (About.com Guide to Kids Clubs) has to say about clubs and their role in play. Perhaps it's time to get them more involved!

As nice as it is to have a set schedule of activities to keep your kids engaged, there is such a thing as over planning. Ann Logdson, the About.com Guide to Learning Disabilities reminds us of the benefits of play. And Paul Nowak of Homeschool Dads Blog points out that play is part of the learning process as he reminds homeschooling families to schedule free play into their day. Free play isn't just important for homeschoolers, as Annette Yen at Parenting Zoo reminds us. She suggests that all parents schedule time for play.

If you're a busy parent, you might be wondering how you're going to squeeze play time into your own day. Jennifer Wolf, the About.com Guide to Single Parents, says that playing with your kids can actually open up free time. Terri Mauro (About.com Guide to Parenting Special Needs) has some tips for working in play experiences even on the busiest days.

Sometimes it may feel like you're going through the motions of play when you're busy or tired. On those days, take some inspiration from Kadi Prescott at Super Nanny Rules. She explains how to "Unleash Your Inner Child".

Let's face it, babies are easy to entertain. You can give them a cardboard box and they'll be amused for hours. Don't have a cardboard box? Visit Eliza Ferree at Babylune to read about the fun her son had with his playpen.

As kids get older, they tend to want slightly more engaging activities. By the time you've got a tween on your hands, it might be your last shot to get them to spend "play time" with you. Terry Candee at GoGo Glue Gun Fun has put together a great craft project to take on with your daughters (and crafty sons, of course). Go on, you know you want to Dress a Bunny!

When you're struggling for ideas, take a step back and look for a simple solution. Kids don't need expensive toys to stay enagaged. Susan Gunelius at playlibrary shares a great story about her triplets and a $2.99 bowling game.  Susan's not the only one with multiples at home. Pamela Fierro, the About.com Guide to Twins and Multiples writes about the special play benefits multiples share with each other.

It's too bad that parenting isn't all about finding great ways for your kids to play. It comes with a lot struggles, guilt and difficult decisions. Carol Bainbridge, the About.com Guide to Gifted Children encourages parents to find the balance between pushing your children to excel and giving them the space to explore on their own.

Still on the subject of guilt, there is the issue of how much TV is too much. Carey Bryson, About.com Guide to Kids' Movies & TV says we shouldn't feel too bad about a little bit of TV time. She explains how it can actually lead to a renewed interest in free play.  

Lois Whittaker at Goodies for Mom touched a chord with me in her post about nature vs. nurture in terms of gender-based play. Who knew that my son (with barely a vehicle to his name as an infant) would become obsessive with all things transportation?

Along with the cars and trucks came some surprising (to me) aggressive behavior. But, hey, he's just two and we're working on using our words. I do hope he'll outgrow it over time. We've got a few years before I need to be concerned about the content of the Blog Fabulous post by Tracee Sioux. She gets controversial as she tackles the issue of banning tag and potentially aggressive games on the playground. Make sure to head over and weigh in on this one! (Double kudos to her for mentioning Randy Pausch's new book!)

There is a certain irony in the idea that we are banning active playground games such as tag in the midst of a struggle to engage kids in physical activity. Denise Witmer (About.com Guide to Parenting of Adolescents) reminds readers that active play keeps teens at a normal weight. So it seems that all the years we spend instilling the love of play can pay off in more ways than one.

If you enjoyed this edition of the carnival, please join us in May for a discussion on Road Trips.