Definition of play: engage in activity for enjoyment and recreation rather than a serious or practical purpose; engage in (a game or activity) for enjoyment; amuse oneself by engaging in imaginative pretence;
Since I make toys – and I’m a mother of a little one – I begin to grow more and more curious about playing. How children these days play, how parents interact and play with them, how can we play in a fun way with them, how playing can help children’s development…
For this interview I have the pleasure to introduce you to Natalie and her family.
Please tell us a bit about you and your family.
My husband and I have 3 kids, 4 year old son and 1 year old twin girls. I am 28 years old and I love my job as a children’s interior designer.
Best playground.
Any playground really, my son loves them!
In a free day what is your family favorite activity?
Playing outside and going for a walk to the park. Kicking the ball with my son or going to the beach. Spending time visiting family and playing with cousins.
How do you play with your kids? With what kind of toys?
I am home with my girls all day and we usually play with musical toys or dance. They both enjoy dancing and singing. They also love toys with activities, for example, putting a ball down a slide or riding their baby bike or anything that makes sounds or plays music. My son LOVES lego and pretend-play. He likes pretending to be a ninja turtle or a fireman and he loves playing outside with tools and driving his ‘car’.
He likes drawing and reading too with me.
What is your favorite toy? And from your children?
Drawing, barbie, dancing, I Love dancing with the girls and drawing with my son. I like doing lego with my son too because he loves it so much. My girls are to small for dolls but Im sure that they will love barbie. But I love readying to them because they try and talk and point to the pictures.
When you were a child what did you play and with what toys? What was your favorite one?
I loved drawing and dancing and the only toy I liked was barbie not really to play with her but to organise her clothes and house etc.
What kind of crafts/DIY projects do you like to do with your kids?
We love making masks and I try get my son to help me with whatever project I am making for.
Your children prefer playing or watching tv? What they see in television influences how they play?
My son likes both. Sometimes he is running for hours and when he is ready for a rest he might watch a little tv. He likes to pretend to be the characters he watches on tv, like ninja turtle or batman, fireman Sam and he also watches craft kids shows where they do art projects. Girls don’t really watch tv.
What is your children’s favorite book? And yours (from his collection)?
I love readying “The giving Tree” to the girl’s and Jordan like’s when I read “The Hungry Caterpillar”.
Please ask your kid “If you could choose to be a storybook character what would you be”? Why?
Peter pan because he flies.
Do you know how does your children play at school?
Yes. Sometimes he likes to play alone very quietly and sometimes he will be crazy and acting as a character with the other kids.
Your kids prefer playing indoors or outdoors?
Outdoors!! It’s very hard in winter as he wants to play outside and its to wet and cold.
Does your kids like to create their own activities / games / characters?
Yes, because my son is the oldest he has learnt to play a little on his own and make up stories while building a cubby or playing lego on his own. I’m not sure how my girls will be because they always had each other to play with.
Sounds and music are important in your child playing?
Yes, especially for my girl’s age. They love it and they enjoy it so much. So did my son when he was little but now he only likes it when I am dancing around like crazy and he will join in too.
Thank’s so much Natalie – it was a pleasure to know a little bit about your wonderful family!
Natalie is a children’s Interior Designer and you can follow her gorgeous work on her site Milka Interiors.
***
I would really like to know how your kids play? What’s their favorite toy, the one they cuddle at night?
Please leave a comment below.