3 Quick Fixes to Completely Transform Your Child's Play

Okay, okay, okayyyy. Don't call the clickbait police, but I have to confess before we go any further...

"Quick fixes," when it comes to children and the nature of their play and emotional wellbeing are hard to come by, and claims to the contrary are usually empty promises. 

So, just let me clarify:

I call these "quick fixes," because they are EASY to enact, simple, and free ideas such that you can put down your device and choose one to try RIGHT NOW. Easy Peasy! 

But the truth is, as with all change, expect to meet some resistance with toddlers who have become accustomed to a different norm in their home and play times. 

I urge you to carry on with a "confident momentum," as childcare expert Janet Lansbury would say! I assure you, these simple additions or changes to your daily routine will be so good for your toddler and yourself, and they require so little of you to try today.

These ideas are all easy, free, and they can have long, lasting effects if you are committed to trying them again and again and again (repetition works, folks!). 

​So let's dive in:

1. Take Your Child Outside

​Wooooo, big surprise from creator of Wild & Free Nature Playschool!!! 

But I mean it! Take your child outside. 

Every.
Single.
Day.

Rain.
Shine.
Snow.
Storm.

Unless there is thunder and lightening, or a weather advisory locally urging you otherwise, 

get
​outside!

​If harsh weather seems intimidating, invest in the foolproof 1-2-3 layering system we recommend from Biddle and Bop, professional outfitters of active kids! Check out our Parent Resource page to learn more about this collaboration!

Once you've got the right gear to make outdoors time a positive experience, set a simple goal to go outside for 10 minutes every day. When you know you've got the right gear, you can relaxed  and mindful rather than worrisome over your child's comfort and safety in the elements. 

​Rain does not always mean thunder and lightening, but at Wild & Free, we don't act casually with keeping our children safe when it does. (We stay inside for a full 30 minutes after the last lightning flash/thunder clap).

We work hard to brave the weather even in the wind and cold as well -- we cannot recommend the online shop Biddle and Bop highly enough to fellow parents looking to outfit their children for the outdoors in any weather. 

There is an ever-growing body of research that confirms beyond reasonable doubt that time spent outdoors daily is integral to the physical, intellectual, and emotional health of our children.

What's more, studies show your children will actually begin to PLAY BETTER when they spend time outdoors! When exposed to natural environments, children play more creatively, more compassionately with one another, exhibit less bullying behaviors, engage in more gross-motor and skill-developing play... the list goes on! How great is that?

If you haven't read it yet, stop, drop, and hop over to our post here >> 5 Reasons You Shouldn't Wait Another Day to Take Your Kids  Outside << to learn more!
​

2. Plan Restful moments in your day

​Toddlerhood can be such a crazy time, full of grand emotions, low self-control, and frequent over-stimulation in a world of excitement and new adventures every day. 

As full-blown toddlers, our children have dropped down to one nap or less, and every day they impress us with their new-found skills and inventions and bravery and creativity. Still, it's important that we remember their brains are working in over-drive all day long. 

While our children may not recognize it yet, it is crucial that we build in moments for their brain and body to slow and regroup. Modeling this and building it into our days is an excellent way to build life-long habits of self-care and increased self-awareness. 

​Try introducing more restful activities after high-points in your day, such as in the late morning - just before lunch - or mid-afternoon, in place of a long-gone nap time. 

Some days we just grab blankets, and practice "Listening Time," on the couch, when we dim the lights and listen to calming music or a Toddler-Friendly Storytime Podcast.

I recognize this may be a big leap for toddlers who haven't practiced restful time in the past, and I assure you, while we are working on building up the frequency and duration of our "Listening Time," our littles are not up to the task every single day!

Disclaimer: No one knows your child better than you, so don't bang your head against the wall instituting activities you know they won't enjoy, just because I said so!

Wait for a day when they're at their best and more willing to try new things, or pass this idea up and return at a later date without shame or guilt if you know you're toddler is in a season when this won't be effective or enjoyable for them!

Our favorite restful activities besides "Listening Time," include independent Search & Find books or Busy Books while we listen to instrumental music, quiet matching games or puzzles, or "Sit Spots," where we pick a place in the back yard to sit still and use our senses to take in the world around us (have no fear -- more information and tips regarding the magical art of a Sit Spot coming your way soon!). 

​We keep our indoor quiet time activities in a separate bin on a higher shelf - this way these activities hold special magic when we need them for our Restful Time! Together we tiptoe over to our bin and bring it down, each child can pick something special for the moment to enjoy!

If you don't feel that you have appropriate supplies for restful activities in your home, or are looking for something novel to introduce the idea to your little, check out some of our favorite supplies below!

(Yes! As you likely already know, the images below contain click-through affiliate links! This means if you choose to purchase these, our playschool will receive a small kickback from Amazon which we can use for playschool supplies and development. If you're not interested, no sweat! Keep scrolling on to our final tip!)

 

3. Transform Your Space

I've been known to walk away from my tantruming toddler... in pursuit of the linen closet. 

I fetch a sheet or two, bring them back to the playroom and enlist help in building an old-fashioned fort! On tough days, we call it our feelings fort, and we sit under our sheet together... we talk and cuddle until everyone is feeling heard and loved and understood. 

Just as surely as a feelings fort distraction can breathe fresh air to a tantruming toddler, refreshing your space can breathe new life into your play! 

Adults and children alike, we are reactionary beings! We become different people when the space we use changes! 

Try rotating toys out of the room in favor of simple tools that promote open-ended play (think blocks over trucks), getting rid of big bins that are constantly ignored or dumped, leave only a few exposed toys per shelf, all within easy view and grasp for your little. 

Experiment at night while your children are sleeping with different "invitations" to play, such as bringing out imaginary kitchen supplies set up as a floor picnic, or lay a blanket down with pillows to create a cozy corner with a favorite book! Try sneakily setting up portions of your playroom as though already mid-play, thus inviting your children to step into the story when they awake!

Heck, even rearrange your furniture for a few days and see what happens!

As much as our littles thrive on consistency, they are hard-wired to experiment in their play. Toddlers crave the act of testing... when they feel that they have tested their toys in all thinkable ways, tried and true, they will begin testing furniture, behaviors, or you!

If the same close-ended toys and activities are presented every single day, I assure you, sooner or later, your sweet toddler will become destructive. 

Toys will be dumped, books will be stomped, animals will be thrown, tantrums will be had!

Remember, there is a fine line between wild play and reckless play, and while wild play is good for the heart, mind, and body... reckless play is often a result of dissonance, boredom from close-ended play, or unresolved emotions within the minds of our littles. 

At the end of the day, toddlers will be toddlers! There is nothing we could or should do to make every day perfect and smooth, but we can work daily to create and improve our culture of play and emotional awareness.

I hope this list was helpful for you, and I wish you many deliriously joyful days of play!

If you're looking for more info on the power of play and how to raise a thriving "wild child" in the current culture,  3 Books You Should Read Today if You're Trying to Raise a Wild Child!

If you're local to Dayton, OH and ready to sign your little up for mornings of engaging nature play, hop over to our Playschool page to learn more about our upcoming programs!