30 minutes a day

“Play is often talked about as if it were a relief from serious learning. But for children, play is serious learning. Play is really the work of childhood.”… Fred Rogers

30 minutes. That’s all.

There is a professor over near Fort Worth Texas named Garry Landreth. In the world of Play Therapy, he has become the guru of all of us who plan to become official Play Therapists. Recently, I went to one of his training sessions on Play. He reminded me of Mr. Rogers.

Dr. Landreth has developed a technique in Play Therapy called “Child Centered Play”. Hmmm…. Interesting thought. So, is there play that is not child centered? Believe it or not, there is. Adult still love to put our agendas on children, even when playing games.

Child Centered Play is actually the process in which parents or therapists spend thirty minutes with a child and follows the child. The adult has no agenda except the child.

This idea often goes against the grain of being parent and being in charge. But suppose it was just for thirty minutes. Dr. Landreth teaches parents to spend 30 minutes a day in which parents are to play with their child in safe, contained space that allows the child play with the adult. Dr. Landreth encourages this time to be called “the special time” in which parents and children engage within the language of the child.

The outcome of this practice is remarkable.
The child feels safe with the parent. The child develops a sense of respect for the parent as someone who is trustworthy. The child feels understood and respected. And as a result, the child is open to respecting the parent outside into the real world in which real life boundaries have to be set.

This is amazing. What would happen if we played with our children?