Embracing Play as a Dad
It's More Than Child's Play
In our recent Grace, Giggles, & Growing Pains podcast with my wife Jenn, we had an enlightening discussion about taking a more playful approach to parenting our toddler Emmy. As a noob, I thought that using a serious or threatening tone to minimize tantrums quickly was the way to go. But I’ve realized suppressing emotions and dictating everything actually backfires.
What's more, I had a deeper realization that this approach with Emmy was a reflection of how I treated myself. I learned this behavior growing up, but it really hasn't served me at all. In fact, all that repression tends to leave me paralyzed or turning to destructive habits. It's been an eye-opening understanding that's helped me see how these patterns not only affect my parenting but also my own well-being.
I was amazed to see Jenn empower Emmy to set a boundary about yelling. The look of restored confidence on Emmy’s face tells how much kids crave autonomy. I also learned young children already have an innate moral compass - shaming is never the answer, even if we think it’s an expedient teacher. We are committed to trying our best to let Emmy fully express her frustrations, so she can process those feelings in a healthy way.
While I tend to be impatient, Jenn taps into Emmy’s imagination to turn chore time into playtime. Racing to the bathroom or pretending there’s a silly monster helps Emmy cooperate without constant control. I default to thinking that “more direction” was better parenting. Now I see that kids thrive when they lead play, rather than just following orders.
Your Playful Challenge
As a logical dad, I never realized how vital play could be. But small tweaks have transformed my perspective. Tapping into imagination and giving kids more autonomy will probably surprise you as well.
Bringing playfulness into parenting doesn't just benefit the children; it brings new life to the whole family and even ourselves as adults. Play is more than a child's fun; it's a necessity for creative thinking and even somehow helps us hold an eternal perspective in our lives by not taking things too seriously. What a Godly paradox!
Tune into Grace, Giggles, & Growing Pains hear more about the insights that have changed my outlook, and to realize the importance of play, not just for your kids but for you as well.
I challenge you to think about how you can add more play to your life. Leave a comment below sharing your thoughts or plans.. let's learn from each other!
