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 Sofie and her family.
Please tell us a bit about you and your family.
My name is Sofie, I’m 29 years old and work in a hospital as occupational therapist. My husband – we are not married but after 10 years together ‘boyfriend’ sounds a little bit strange – works long days as a fysiotherapist.
I always have to start working early, but I do not mind that. Because of that I have more time in the afternoon I can spend with Leonie and on Mondays we have extra mother-daughter time. Leonie is our daughter, she is 21 months at this moment.
She is a real girly girl, has all the drama, loves her dresses and dolls. On the other hand she has no fear exploring life to the fullest and she loves to do that by jumping, crawling, running, climbing everything. It makes my heart stand still sometimes. She is a clever girl – yes I know all mums say that. Speaks a lot and she learns new words every day now. I really have to be careful with what I’m saying right now
Best playground.
In our garden we have a playhouse with a swing and a sandpit, it’s really ugly but sometimes you have to choose your battles. She likes playing outside and it helps me to get my household done. It’s our best playground when the weather is okay.
On a free day, what is your family’s favorite activity?
In the weekends we love to go outside with the family, on rainy days we make it comfy inside our tipi and color, all day long or we are watching the television.
How do you play with your daughter? With what kind of toys?
Leonie loves pretend playing with her dolls with all the accessories you can imagine (bath, diapers, stroller, bottle,…) with her kitchen where she makes me soup. We have a slide in her room what she like doing for hours.
What is your favorite toy? And your daughter’s?
Do you know that yellow noisy clown, Bumba? If you don’t just leave it. It really is the most annoying thing that exists but Leonie just loves him to the moon and back, that smile on her face makes me forget that I always said that I would never let my child watch too much television haha. A bike from iimostore its one of her favorite toys too.
What is your child’s favorite book? And yours (from her collection)?
She also loves ‘reading’, pointing pictures out and tell me what it is. Our favorite books are the books from illustrator Ingela P.
Sounds and music are important in your child playing?
Singing and dancing is something we do every day when I’ve picked her up from daycare we eat some soup – real one, not the one Leonie has made – and dance and sing for 30 minutes afterwards, it’s our daily routine.
Big thank you Sofie for sharing with us a little of your world!
You can follow Sofie and her family here.
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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.