"Play is the work of children. It's very serious stuff." -Bob Keeshan
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Greetings!
Let's kick this off with a quote from my favourite author of all times:
"The whole difference between construction and creation is exactly this: that a thing constructed can only be loved after it is constructed; but a thing created is loved before it exists."
--Charles Dickens
Getting our kiddos affected by RAD to be creative can be a challenge. They often seem to completely lack imagination and have such a short attention span that getting them to make something can seem almost impossible.
However, the benefits of getting them to use imagination and creativity are many! The part of the brain that controls logic & reasoning, planning, and attention span (among many other great things) is built and strengthened by play.
So here are some great ways to get this part of the brain working and how to do it in a structured, therapeutic environment.
Enjoy!
With love,
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Structured Playtime
Keeping our children in a structured environment at all times in imperative to helping them feel safe in our homes. This includes during playtime.
Using structured play also teaches children limits and boundaries, body awareness, logic and reasoning, quietness, and calmness: all skills they need to be successful in life - at home, at school, and later at work.
Children with RAD need clear boundaries in order to feel safe. Use structured playtime as follows:
- Set out a small blanket, beach towel, or rug and place the toys YOU want your child to play with on the rug.
- Have your child sit on the rug and give them clear limits: "I want you to keep your body on the rug, and I want you to be quiet."
- As soon as they cross one limit - one peep, one finger off the rug - they are done playing. Tell them, "Thank you for letting me know you're done playing with this, let's get it cleaned up!"
It's important not to use anger or get frustrated. In the beginning they will test the limits within the first few seconds. They want to know
1)
Are you going to stick to what you say? (are you trust worthy),
2)
Are you watching me? (can you keep me from getting hurt or hurting someone else),
3)
Can I get you angry and be in control of your emotions?
A great therapist that I work with calls it a Small World; when our children are emotionally much younger than their chronological age they need their world the size of what a toddler could handle. As they begin to heal and grow, so does their world. AWESOME!
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Activities to Use for Structured Playtime
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Builder Toys
NO instructions! Hand them a bucket of building supplies and let their brains get to work!
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I like to use
- Lego
- Magnatiles
- Lincoln Logs
- Blocks
- Magnetix
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Drawing
Give your child blank paper and a box of crayons, markers, or coloured pencils and see what they come up with!
Drawing is very therapeutic, and can help an anxious child to relax.
Cerebral Benefits
Our brain actively participates in the activity of drawing. The left hemisphere of our brain, responsible for logical tasks, is present, just as is the right hemisphere, responsible for creativity and imagination. Therefore, when we draw, we are working with our brain and developing its capacity.
Mental Health Benefits
Drawing clearly benefits our mental health. On one hand, drawing favors concentration, and helps us to acquire it, as when we draw, we can be focused on what we want to get across, and not on other things. Also, it helps to distract us from difficult problems or difficult situations that we may be going through, while we do something relaxing and which allows us to go our own pace and create unhindered pieces of art.
Pleasure and Fun Benefits
Drawing is something that we can do in the company of others, promoting friendships and spending good times with friends. It is a way of being clear-headed, calm, working with our brains, and having fun all at the same time.
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Reading
Books are great for so many things! When using reading for structured playtime choose a novel they are currently reading, or a few picture books and get them situated on their playtime rug or on the couch.
Check out this archived newsletter for book suggestions:
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Playdough
Playdough or modeling clay are great for creativity and sensory play. Give your child a blob of dough on a cutting board or plastic place mat, and let them use their imagination! I like to give them a bin with a rolling pin, butter knife, fork, garlic press, and a few cookie cutters.
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Note to Respite Providers:
Remember that one of the goals of respite is to help motivate a child to want to be with their Mom and family. Having your playtime activities 'more boring' that what they get at home can really help with this!
The following list is what I use with the respite kids that come to my house:
- Lego: 'Boring' Lego, as in just bricks. No fun extra pieces.
- Drawing: Blank paper and a limited number of crayons/pencils.
- Books: Encyclopedias (read them first - they do need some page-ripping-out editing sometimes), old school readers, black and white story books.
- Playdough: One colour, no cookie cutters, play dough toys, etc.
If a child leaves respite thinking that the toys their Mom gives them for playtime are better - AWESOME! It creates a win-win situation: the child thinks Mom is best and Mom feels special when she can give her child something fun to do.
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"For I know the plans I have for you", declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you HOPE and a FUTURE."
Jeremiah 29:11
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