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Oh, that dreaded homework time! You're familiar with that moment in the late afternoon or evening when you just want to unwind, yet there's still that lingering homework from the school day with your kids. I can almost hear their grumbling and groans of resistance from here!

It was one of those evenings for me and my two children. All three of us were tired and grumpy after returning from our activities, yet we knew the work needed to be finished. Resistance was high as we flipped open the books, attempting to tackle the tasks at hand. Our frustration quickly escalated, turning it into a struggle to coax them to finish.

Have you ever found yourself in a stressful parenting situation where play was the furthest thing from your mind? I understand completely. Typically, my mind races through my lengthy to-do list or dwells on how exhausted I feel—all completely valid emotions.

Yet, it dawned on me: I was already expending a lot of energy in frustration trying to get through our homework. Why not channel that energy into a more playful approach? By speaking a language more attuned to my kids, we accomplished the same tasks I had been struggling to enforce. Play transformed our frustration into connection and success. But before we continue this conversation, go support the sponsor we love today, here’s a quick ad for them.

As my frustration mounted, I realized I was at a crossroads: continue down this path of frustration and push the work to be completed in an authoritarian tone, or seek a new approach to the situation. So, I opted for the latter. I momentarily left the room and made my way to my kids’ “dress-up” bin, where I found some wacky glasses. Returning to the homework zone, I reintroduced myself as their new, somewhat “eccentric” teacher. After their initial surprise, the fun kicked off! Adopting a silly accent, I presented the same homework assignments as before. Soon enough, we were completing tasks amidst more giggles than when we first began! Whew! Mission accomplished!

My perspective on the importance of play in parenting shifted dramatically after reading “Playful Parenting” by Lawrence J. Cohen (this isn't an endorsement; I genuinely just love the book!). Cohen introduces the concept that play is a language for children, offering a beautiful means to transform frustrating moments into connections and successes. This idea is particularly challenging for me because it wasn't how I was raised, making playful parenting a foreign concept.

What exactly is playful parenting? There are numerous ways play can be incorporated into parenting. Simply getting down on the living room floor to play a game, or tossing a ball outside, can significantly strengthen the emotional connection between a caregiver and a child. Play also facilitates children in expressing their inner thoughts and feelings, enhances communication skills, offers opportunities for emotional regulation, and builds confidence and autonomy through child-led play. There are so many wonderful reasons to choose to engage in play with the children in our lives!

*Please give a gentle round of applause too…*