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 Lyndsay and her family.
Please tell us a bit about you and your family.
I’m Chinese Canadian, born in Canada – my husband is Caucasian, and we have a 4 year old son named Teddy! We live in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
Best playground.
We have lots of fun when we go to the mountainous forest a short drive away – so much to look at and listen to – a caterpillar slinking across some steps, a chipmunk chirping, cartoonish mushrooms sprouting up from under the trees, rocks to throw into the water to make a big splash.
In a free day what is your family favorite activity?
In the summer it’s going to the beach to play in the sand and swim in the ocean, which is still pretty brisk unless it’s a very hot day (rare in Vancouver.) In the fall we like to go on walks to Lynn Valley which is the mountainous forest area, for fresh air and exercise. I like waking up and making pancakes or waffles served with yogurt and maple syrup, drink some earl grey tea, then do something as a family, usually we try to go outdoors if it’s not pouring rain.
How do you play with your kid? With what kind of toys?
I love playing with Teddy. We play fake restaurant/cafe a lot, and one person plays the serving staff and the other plays the customer, or we do “drive-through” using my son’s myriad of toy cars. Teddy loves all motorized vehicles, particularly ones he deems “fast” cars. He also love Playmobil, which I grew up with too – we do a lot of imaginary play! We also listen to lots of music and Teddy loves playing guitar and pretending to shred like he’s in a punk band. Sometimes all it takes is a box that’s about to be recycled and it becomes the coolest most fun toy in the world, recently I cut eye holes into a box and it became a knight’s helmet.
What is your favorite toy? And from your son?
I love wooden fake food such as this wooden hamburger set my son has – and pretend milkshakes, ice cream, etc!
When you were a child what did you play and with what toys? What was your favorite one?
I was very gender neutral and played with a lot of sort of Americanized toys such as He-man, MASK, My Little Pony, Barbie… but I also loved Playmobil and treasured my Playmobil pirate ship!
What kind of crafts/DIY projects do you like to do with your child?
We’ll make pancakes, or I’ll set up an art project for him but he’s not as interested in art yet, which sometimes I find frustrating because I loved art and drew every day as a child. Recently we painted a cake box into a house for his Playmobil knight and some other characters (I forget who!) with a toilet paper cardboard roll for a chimney.
Your kid prefers playing or watching tv? What he sees in television influences how he play?
Teddy loves his TV shows but I try to be a hardass and really limit his viewing during the day, except on Saturdays when we have “movie night”, or when it’s about 430pm and we’ve held off all day and I put something on for him while I make dinner!!
What are your son’s favorite books? And yours (from his collection)?
Right now he loves this beautifully illustrated book about dinosaurs – it’s a reissue from the 1960s so the design is really appealing to me, too – my favourite book is “The Fourteen Bears in Summer and Winter” which was my sisters and i’s book as children, which I now read to Teddy! It’s awesome, each little bear has its own decorated treehouse in their own style, and it follows the bears through the seasons. I always liked the mid-century modern treehouse, haha!
Do you know how does he play at school?
His preschool is very play-based so he’s always playing! Lately his favourites are the dinosaurs and the construction type stuff, and of course, “fast cars.”
Your kid prefer playing indoors or outdoors?
He is happy either way. We try to get him outside a fair amount. But he will play for an hour making up some fantastical scene with his toys, or he will sing and make up songs and play his guitar.
Does your son likes to create his own activities / games / characters?
Oh yes. New games are being created on a daily basis, always skewed so he is the “winner!” Ha.
Sounds and music are important in your child playing?
There’s always music on in our house. My husband and I both used to tour in bands playing music and we both play several instruments, and I love singing … Teddy is constantly singing and making up songs and making up amazing band names! His latest band name is Wild Bees. Before that it was Crash Into Your Brain.
Another fun family that I had the pleasure to share with you – thank’s so much Lyndsay!
Lyndsay makes the most delicious, beautiful and creative cakes – you can follow her cake, dessert & party DIY’s in her blog Coco Cake Land.
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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.