How To Play When You are a Tired, Overworked, and Overwhelmed Parent

We have all been there. Your child asks you to play with them after a long, busy day and you just don’t have the energy. The last thing you want to do is play. What you really want to do is lay down and sleep. But somehow you muster up every bit of energy so you can play with them.

 

But did you know there are ways you can play with your child that don’t take much energy at all? Depending on your child’s age, there are a few things you can try…

 

If your child is a preschooler…have them do role plays with you. Children this age love to use their imagination! My daughter loves pretending she works at a spa and I am her client. Thank you Fancy Nancy! She has me lay down on a lawn chair or on the couch with a pillow and blanket and directs me to close my eyes. Then she proceeds to paint my nails, brush my hair, read me books, etc. I am an active participant by playing with her but I get to relax, close my eyes, and get pampered, which takes little to no energy. In fact, I sometimes get some energy back because I get a moment of rest, which is a good thing because sometimes she asks me to take a turn and have me pamper her, too!

 

If your child is a toddler...you can ask them to put on a show for you. Toddlers love to perform, sing, and dance. They would be more than delighted to perform for you! That way, you can sit down and be present enough to watch but not have to actively play with them. Playing with your child doesn’t always mean you have to play with them. Something being playful and or playing alongside them is all they need. Watching toddlers play and being in the same room is good enough for those long, exhausting days.

 

 

If your child is a baby...you can find something to distract them. You can have them play on an interactive play mat to keep their attention directed on their surroundings and not necessarily put the pressure on you to provide it for them. You can easily sit near them but they will be having so much fun with their surroundings, they won’t necessarily need you for interaction purposes. We just started using the newly released North States ABC play mat. You’ve seen me use their other products like their baby gates and play yards. You can read about them here , here and here! I have used so many products of theirs because I trust them. They are the leading safety gate manufacturer and there is nothing more important than keeping my children safe. We truly love our baby gate and our play yards and literally use them every single day.

 

And now North States has expanded their product line with this new Superyard ABC play mat – and as a play therapist and mom, there is nothing I would want to stand behind more than a play tool that is good for learning, safety, and fun!  This extra large play mat can be a stand alone play area for your child or it can easily fit under their various play yards. Here is why I love it:

 

 

1. It is a learning tool. Babies and toddlers can start learning their letters and associate animals that start with those letters at a young age. My son loves seeing certain animals and making the animal sounds that go with the animal on the play mat.
2. It is colorful. It is engaging for babies and toddlers to play on it. My son asks to play in his play yard now because he loves his play mat so much. He is intrigued by the colorful and fun background. It is exciting for them and will keep their attention for quite a while! And even though it is colorful and fascinating, it has a beige background that will easily fit with any home or nursery decor!
3. It’s cushioned. It is soft with extra thick padding, so you can rest extra assured that your child is safe. Whether they are keeping their knees safe while crawling, are rolling around, and or fall while playing on the play mat, the padded cushioning will keep them safe! It will also be very comfortable for babies doing tummy time!
4. It’s easy to clean. You can just take a wet towel and wipe it down! Plus it’s water resistant!
5. It’s easy to take on the go. It is so easy to fold up, it only takes less than a minute and it folds down to a fairly small size. Since the play mat can be used indoors and outdoors, you can easily pack it into the car and take it to the beach, park, and on road trips to put in a hotel room. And it only weighs 2.75 pounds!
6. The play mat is made of PE Foam and is hypoallergenic, BPA FREE, and non-toxic!
7. The play mat is a great investment. It will grow with your child over the years from infancy to preschool! My daughter loves playing on it with her brother and she also uses it as a play area to dance and sing on when he is sleeping!