I love my kids, but I would rather do chores than the pretend play where you get out the farm animals or dolls and make them talk to each other. And y’all know how much I hate cleaning!
I want you to know that you’re not a bad mom if you don’t get down on the floor and pretend play with your kids.
You're not a bad mom if you don't get down on the floor and pretend play with your kids. Click To TweetThere are actually six play personalities defined by Stuart Brown who wrote Play: How it Shapes the brain, opens the imagination, and invigorates the soul.*
The Joker
This person enjoys nonsense and making others laugh. He is often the class clown. Children who are jokers will respond well to playful engagement.
Activity to try: laughing
The Kinesthete
A kinesthete feel the happiest when he is moving. He may also need to move to learn.
Activity to try: playing sports
The Explorer
Whether it be physical, emotional, or mental, an explorer thrives on new experiences. Try engaging all of the senses when guiding an explorer.
Activity to try: going on trips, reading books, collecting
The Competitor
This play personality never does anything “just for fun.” She is out to win and can turn anything into a competition. Gamifying tasks works well for this play personality.
Activity to try: playing board games
The Artist/Creator
The artist/creator’s goal is to make something beautiful–either from scratch or as a restoration. Provide a steady stream of materials for projects to keep the artist/creator busy.
Activity to try: exploring crafts, collecting
The Storyteller
No matter what a storyteller is doing, she uses imagination to increase enjoyment. Learning through stories and parables will keep education fun for a storyteller.
Activity to try: reading and writing stories, imaginative play
Which one or two do you most resonate with? Which one or two do you think your kids most resonate with?
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