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 Rossa and her family.
Please tell us a bit about you and your family.
My family is made up of myself, Reebu my husband, Raoul our shy 6 year old and Roan our fiesty 4 year old. I work full time as an Accountant and love being creative in my spare time (I dabble in sewing, knitting, crafting, drawing, painting and cake decorating). Reebu works full time as an Engineer and his motorbike is his biggest hobby. Raoul is in Year 1 at our local school and Roan goes to Kindergarten 2 days a week and day care the remaining 3 days a week.
Best playground.
Definetly the outdoors, nothing beats being out in fresh air and sunshine.
On a free day, what is your family’s favourite activity?
Heading to a park with a playground. We are fortunate to have many parks in our locality, so we rotate between a few. The boys also love to swim either in our home pool or the nearby beach.
How do you play with your boys? With what kind of toys?
The game my boys most frequently request I play is “Monster chasey”. I’m usually the monster that chases them around and tries to capture them.
What is your favourite toy? And your children’s?
I enjoy jigsaw puzzles and construction toys. Raoul likes pretend toys like a Doctors set, tool set whilst Roan loves his super hero figurines!
When you were a child what did you play and with what toys? What was your favourite one?
Puzzles were afavourite when I was a child.
What kind of crafts/DIY projects do you like to do with your kids?
We do a wide variety of crafting as it is a great way to nurture creativity in children as well as spend quality time with them. Our crafts are inspired by the picture books we read or we make some DIY toys to play with.
Do your children prefer playing or watching tv? Does what they see on television influence how they play?
Yes they do gravitate towards watching tv when they are tired and want some down time egat the end of a week day, they’ve been out of the house for 10 hours as they go to before school care, school and then after school care because hubby and I work full time jobs. After 10 hours of activity, playing and constant stimulation, I can understand their need to be still and wind down by watching tv!
During weekends, when we have more free time, they are more likely to head outdoors and play.
What is your children’s favourite book? And yours (from their collection)?
Raoul currently likes picture puzzle books and Roan currently loves his superhero colouring in book or superhero sticker activity book.
Please ask your kids “If you could choose to be a storybook character what would you be? Why?”
Raoul: the mouse in “The Gruffalo” because he’s so clever and tricked everyone.
Roan: Batman (I’m not surprised!) because he’s a superhero that saves people from the baddies.
Do you know how does your children play at school?
Not sure but I think they are encouraged to get out and run around and move their bodies.
Your kids prefer playing indoors or outdoors?
They tend to play in my vicinity. If I’m indoors in the kitchen or on my computer, they’ll play indoors. Whilst if I’m outdoors in the garden, they will play there.
Does your kids like to create their own activities / games / characters?
Yes! Very often and I find it fascinating to eavesdrop on their make believe world!
Sounds and music are important in your child playing?
We are not a musical family and there is rarely music playing at home. That’s just as well, because it is very noisy when the boys are playing and we likely wouldn’t hear the music anyway!
Thank’s a lot sweet Rossa for sharing with us a little of your fun world!
Follow Rossa’s crafty adventures and her favourite books here at Curious Little People.
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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.