“Mom, will you play with me?”
At age six, this isn’t asked of me much anymore. I was a little surprised.
We do a lot of board games, video games and spend quality time together doing other things like art or reading.
But playing? Actual on the floor, imaginative, silly, playing?
It’s just not a thing they ask a lot as they get older.
I was right in the middle of some cleaning when she asked me this and I knew that I had to stop what I was doing and give her my attention.
Because when a kid needs you they don’t come out and say, “Hey mom, I need to talk to you. I need to be with you. Today was a rough day.”
What they do say, is “play with me.”
The first time I saw this quote from Lawrence Cohen I felt it. I knew that it was so very true.
Although they are growing and getting smarter by the day, they often can’t articulate exactly how they’re feeling and what their needs are. That’s why kids with anxiety don’t tell you they’re nervous, they say ‘my stomach hurts’.
They tell you things in the only way they know how.
And the thing is, the time they are requesting isn’t much. They need full, undivided attention and focus for a just a short amount of time.
I knew when my daughter asked for my time that I would be right back to finishing up my chores in a half hour.
When you make time to play with your kids it:
♥ Gives them a place to communicate with you.
♥ Releases kids anxiety.
♥ Helps increase their confidence and self -esteem.
♥ Releases oxytocin in YOUR brain!
Remember the next time your little one is asking for your attention through play, that they may just be needing to talk to you about something.
More Great Reads
22 Phrases To Help Calm A Worried Kid
The Reality of Why Kids Aren’t As Happy As They Used To Be
5 Life Changing Documentaries To Watch With Your Kids
Liz is a just a mom trying to keep it real about how little she sleeps, how often she gets puked on and how much she loves them. You can find her here every day writing about real-mom moments.
Cyndi says
Love this. Thank you for all the great reminders.
hydrogen executor says
What a beautiful and poignant post.
Chelsie says
This is so important!!!! Thank you for posting this. I am definitely sharing!
Alicia says
I needed this in a way you’ll never know tonight. Thank you for writing this short piece.
Suzanne says
Thank you. I needed to read this.
Leah says
Thanks for this post, we all need to be reminded of how important it is to take time out for our children and Grandchildren. Play time, cuddle time or just to listen to what they have to say goes a long way!
Lynn says
Love this!!! FYI – it is “board” games and not “bored” games. 🙂
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Internet Roadtrip says
Internet Roadtrip Aww, this is so true! My kiddo says “play with me” all the time, and I never really thought about it this way. Gonna make more time for playtime now. Thanks for sharing!
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