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 Anne and her family.
Please tell us a bit about you and your family.
I’m living in Switzerland with my boyfriend Marc and our two kids Lenox, 6 years old and Finn Henry 2 years old. We live in a small town called Fribourg, where we have an apartment on the groud floor. We can get out to play in the garden and enjoy inviting friends over for barbecue in summer. Our house is at the city limit and we have the forest very near by.
Best playground.
We love playing out in the woods, where we are buliding a big cabin with sticks and other things we find in the forest, since a couple of months. Every time we go there we continue a bit. Right now it has 4 rooms.
Now in summer our favorite playground is the river. We spend hours buliding dams and little pools or try to catch fishes (we actually never got one, but Lenox loves it).
In a free day what is your family favorite activity?
On a free day we love to sleep in (we are lucky, our kids sleep until 9 or even longer if we let them) hang out in our pyjamas the whole morning and read newspapers while the kids play (does not always work so well). Then we go out, either to the forest, or swimming somewhere in summer. During winter we go skiing or play outside in the snow. We are lucky to live very close to the mountains. We can get to a ski resort in 30 minutes.
How do you play with your kids? With what kind of toys?
I don’t like playing so much… the only thing i like is building legos but of course Lenox then wants me to play a role and I don’t like this. I’m very creative so i love sewing costumes, or build cardboard vehicles or do other handicrafts with the kids. And i also play uno or memory with them.
What is your favorite toy? And from your kids?
My favorite toy is lego. Lenox loves his legos too, but he’s also much into bakugan and transformers.
I think Finn does not have a favorite toy. He wants to copy everything his big brother does and likes to dress up as superman or monster.
When you were a child what did you play and with what toys? What was your favorite one?
I remember that me and my sister were dressing up a lot, we also played with barbies. But mainly I was doing all sorts of handcrafts and went out with my bike to go play in the near forest. I also spend hours picking flowers in the fields.
What kind of crafts/DIY projects do you like to do with your children?
Sewing costumes, make things out of cardboard and they also like baking.
Your kids prefer playing or watching tv? What they see in television influences how they play?
They love tv… I try to let them watch as little as possible, but they usually watch every day while I prepare dinner. I really need to cook in peace, can’t deal with screaming kids while cooking.
Tv does influence their playing. They like watching things like lego ninjago or all kinds of superhero stuff. So they usually jump around the house with swords and armors being one of the tv heroes.
What are your kids favorite books? And yours (from their collection)?
Right now they love globi. And Finn also loves everything barbapapa.
Do you know how does your kids play at school?
Finn does not go to school yet, but Lenox does all kinds of handicrafts at school. Usually he brings home a big bag full of stuff he made every day. I then have to let it disappear discreetly…
Your kids prefer playing indoors or outdoors?
They like both. But i prefer outdoors, there is less mess to clean up after ( : and i love being outdoors anyway. I think being outdoors with them makes them more creative, and they get less bored.
Does your kids like to create their own activities / games / characters?
Lenox creates his own games and characters all the time. He loves roleplays.
Sounds and music are important in your children playing?
They often listen to fairy tales while sitting at the table playing lego, drawing or playing with playdough. Lenox likes to listen the soundtrack of pirates of the caribbean. Finn likes music in general and usually dances around the house.
Another fun family that I had the pleasure to share here – thank’s so much Anne!
Anne makes the most adorable pompom moccs – you can find them at her site Petit Mai.
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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.