How to listen to your toddler or pre schooler

What is your special time with your children? My insight this week was about special time and letting your child lead. I have always tried to give my oldest "special time" once my daughter came along. That usually involved me planning something little during her nap time, like a puppet show or picnic in the garden. It involved me doing something for him. This week however I was reading "Playful Parenting" by Laurence Cohen. He described special time as letting the child lead. Play whatever they want to play. Of course I have done this too, however as I read the reasons why we should do this, I was really struck by just how meaningful it is and it really resonated with me.


"Special time is an active form of listening, in which your child's play becomes the vehicle for telling you about their life". "Playing what they want to play and how they want to play is our way of really listening". "They need us to be active participants in the play just like listening requires active attentiveness".


Wow! What better investment can I give to my boy than special time listening to him. Really listening. I am here for you and I am here to listen. How wonderful if he grows up with the feeling that I am there to really listen to him. Something I think is especially important for boys. I figure it is putting a dollar in the bank of "come talk to me whenever you have a problem bank" that he will be able to draw on as he gets older.


Now playing matchbox cars or Thomas trains takes on a whole new meaning to me. It is no longer a bit tedious and I find ways to get myself engaged and work to not let my mind wander and bring myself back into his space for a good long period of time. Real quality time. I can see us even more connected this week.


Have a beautiful weekend Mothers x