Unwind and detach from daily worries!
LEGO NZ has teamed up with one of New Zealand’s most playful parents, Jordan Watson, to help Kiwi families find easy and low-energy ways to make their days more playful.
This comes as new global research from the LEGO Group revealed a play deficit in urban areas.
The research, which surveyed parents and children living in cities around the world, found that 84 percent of parents say their city doesn’t prioritise play, and more than two-thirds (69 percent) don’t feel their city offers safe and accessible play spaces for children.
As a Kiwi dadfluencer, here are some of Jordan’s tips for making more space and time for play.
- Be present: Don’t become antisocial because of social media. Next time you’re scrolling social media and the kids want to play, don’t say ‘no’ – phone down, and get into it!
- Bring out your inner kid: A great way to enjoy playing with your kids is to share ideas with them that you love.“I’m a massive frisbee guy, so running out to the back yard with a frisbee or a rugby ball excites the kids and fills my cup.”
- Make time to play: Playing with your kids doesn’t have to be a drawn-out task. “I know how tight afternoon/evening schedules can be, but a simple five minutes interacting and playing with your kid can mean the world to them, and you’ll treasure the memories later.”
- Low energy engagement: Feeling a bit tired? This is the perfect time to use that clever grown-up brain of yours and pitch games that are a bit more relaxed. From LEGO builds to card games, maybe even pretend you’re in a ‘library’, which means whispers only.
- Challenge accepted: Jordan and his kids are competitive and love a little playful battle. They have a big basket of mixed-up LEGO bricks, and set quick-fire challenges like, “5 mins to make the best car, or house, or tower”.
Play has a powerful impact on child development, well-being and social connection. The benefits of play are also apparent for parents, with many reporting that they feel happier and less stressed after engaging in playful activities.
