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Our FAQ on Natural Play
Why are Open-Ended, Multi-Purpose Toys Important?
Toys that encourage a child to use his/her creativity to complete the toy or find several uses for one toy nurture the child's imagination. It helps them to become creative and use "out of the box" thinking. It is important to offer these types of toys because so many of the toys given to children today do the work for them in an attempt to entertain or teach a specific skill. We want children to be independent thinkers and problem solvers in addition to having factual information in memory.
Why do you talk about Waldorf Education so much?
In my work and in my search for information on child development and the importance of play, I personally have found the Waldorf philosophy to be very developmentally appropriate. In preschool, it takes a play-based approach and seems to do an excellent job of incorporating what we know about child development into the daily practices in the classroom.
But my child loves the high-tech toys!
High-tech toys can certainly be interesting for young children with their lights and sounds. Children are often initially intrigued. The problem with these toys is that they encourage passive learning and can foster the need to be entertained. These toys can also be overstimulating.
Is it too late to start my child playing with open-ended toys?
It's never too late to decide that you want to provide more creative playthings for your child. There may be a little resistance at first, particularly if the child is used to being entertained by television and high-tech toys. Start with a few unstructured playthings and get the child interested. You may have to use a little imagination to make the play scenario interesting for the child, but once the interest is sparked, the child's creativity can take over. You can gradually incorporate more open-ended toys over time. Many parents I've talked to have been genuinely surprised at how their children have responded.
Why are dolls so important for boys and girls?
Play with dolls is important because a doll is a representation of the child. Children use dolls symbolically to represent themselves. In this way, they can project feelings, concerns, and emotions onto the doll that they may not express verbally. Doll play is more than just feeding, dressing, and caring for a doll. It represents the child and thus should be treated with respect and be well taken care of. I am partial to Waldorf-inspired dolls as their facial features are very simple as to allow the child to decide if the doll is crying, laughing, or sleeping.
How much should I play with my child?
I think parents today feel undue pressure to "entertain" their children. When given the opportunity, children can enjoy the opportunity for free creative play alone. This can be started a very young age and the child will become accustomed to having some alone play (with proper supervision and intermittent check-ins). You can help foster this by setting this routine early and by truly being with the child when you are together. This is not to say you shouldn't play along with your child sometimes. Children can benefit from your play interactions with them as well. When you play with your child, try to let the child define the play and you can ask questions to get them to expand on the play they have created.
How do I encourage my child to play on his/her own?
One of the best ways to encourage play is by letting your child observe you in useful work. Children learn through imitation. Watching you involved in daily tasks will inspire some of the most popular themes in childhood play: kitchen play, house play, and caring for babies.
Should I enroll my child in organized play activities?
I think playgroups, mothers morning out, and other similar programs can be nice for young children, but more importantly, they can be a needed outlet for parents. When considering such programs, consciously consider how many hours the group will be held for at any one time, the number of children involved, and the age appropriateness of the planned play activities.
What about organized sports activities?
I would use great caution here. Personally, I feel that young children's bodies and muscles are still developing and do not need the extra pressure of kicking a soccer ball for example. I also think that young children need the freedom of free play rather than being told how to play. If you are considering enrolling your young child in baby gymnastics or an organized sport, I encourage you to reflect on your intention. If it is for the purpose of social interaction, there are many other alternatives - playgroups, parks, and playgrounds. If it is about developing a competitive spirit, this will happen naturally when they enter grade school. It it for the purpose of learning a sport or discovering a talent, it might be worth considering that many children are now "burning out" on sports in high school. Overall, this is a parental decision, I think it is important to make that decision based on respect for your child's developmental stage.
Do I have to eliminate television?
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends no television viewing for children under age two and limited viewing for children under four. It is not a whole brain activity. Period. There are a variety of reasons why television veiwing for children is a cause for concern ranging from the hypnotic state of your brain while watching tv to links to childhood obesity.
There is no doubt that television is a part of our society and many parents will allow their children to watch. I strongly encourage you to think about the precedent you are setting with your child when you allow television and/or videos to become a part of their daily routine.
That said, if you decide to allow television, here are a few helpful guidelines to implement:
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Plan viewing - have a specific program you are going to watch and turn the TV off when it's over.
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Move the TV to a less central location in the house
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Cut out commercials - watch a video or commercial fee TV
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Make TV an occasional event - once a week pop popcorn and watch a program, have a tradition of watching a special program on special occasions or holidays.
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