CEO of Nature Play WA, Kelsie Prabawa-Sear joined Bec and Asa on Drive to talk about returning to play.

Speaking from personal experience, Kelsie said that play can be easier for some parents than for others.

Keep it Simple

“Often for parents, we actually make it over-complicated. Some parents try to turn things into lessons for kids or there’s always a moral to the story. But play in itself is really beneficial and sometimes we sort of miss the point of just playing to have fun and connect with our kids and sort of over facilitate it.”

She admitted that sometimes play can be mind-numbing.

More often than not, they don’t need us playing with them. If they’re already playing, then go make yourself a cup of tea. Let the kids play.”

Playing alongside children often begins because a parent wants to kickstart them into another activity, or get them off a screen.

“If you want to connect with your child or maybe show them that you’ve really got the time for them, then play’s a really nice way to do that.”

A Playful Mindset

Kelsie said that the struggle parents have with engaging with their children, is we are not taking on playful mindsets.

“As parents we feel like we’re busy, we’re trying to get stuff done, we’re stressed. Often we don’t like to admit, but we’ve got our mind on other things or on that little device that’s in our pocket. We’d rather read the something, something, check the score, you know, and so we’re not really feeling engaged.”

Parents are the gatekeepers of their playful mindset.

“As soon as you bring that playful mindset, the kids pick up on it. So I like the idea of starting with things like, I wonder, like you can do that with little kids and big kids, you know, with little ones, oh, I wonder what would happen if…”

She said older children like to be challenged with what they can do. It starts with mum or dad being in a playful mood to start those types of interactive engagement.

Little Imaginations

“I think we’ve got to keep in mind kids can play with literally nothing. Like their imaginations are amazing. And often if you leave them… They will find ways to play.”

She listed an example of waiting rooms, when they don’t have a device to stare at, they will find something to play with.

“Sometimes it might be a little bit too boisterous for the space they’re in, but they’re absolutely capable of creating their own games. So I think maybe, again, we sort of over-facilitate it. Really, you can just let them be.”

Kelsie said, more often than not, you can relax and suggest that the kids play.

“You have to be clear that the device is not an option, actually mean it, then they will start to play.”

When our children reach a certain age, we understand what their areas of interest are.

“With teenage boys, if you start with, ‘I wonder if you could climb up that tree,’ they’ll be up that tree so fast.

Check out the full chat with Kelsie Prabawa-Sear below.