Everyday play important for adults, too

Go to work. Pick up some ingredients for dinner at the grocery store. Drop the kids off at practice.

Constantly tugged in different directions, today’s parents are busier than ever. Despite their many responsibilities and demands at the workplace and on the home front, parents today surprisingly spend more time with their kids than previous generations. But at the same time, they often wonder about the quality of the time they spend.

To help busy parents, Rice Krispies has launched Operation Spark, a new educational initiative devoted to providing parents more ways to meaningfully connect with their kids by adding simple touches of creativity to everyday routines.

Dr. Lawrence J. Cohen, a noted psychologist specializing in play and author of “Playful Parenting,” says that quality time can be brought to virtually every nook and cranny of your day and it’s easy to come by with just a few simple pointers:

•Encourage exploration. While children learn through play, parents shouldn’t assume that means that every playtime has to be about education. Let kids play in the sand, chase after things and bang on pots and pans. By doing this, kids learn about the world at their own pace without fear of failure.

•Set a timer. Many parents may struggle to stay focused and give their kids their undivided attention, especially when the activity is not something they particularly enjoy. Setting a timer can help you to commit to fully engaging with your child. Keep the philosophy that you can do anything for 30 minutes, even if it means dressing up dolls or pretending you are on a spaceship to Mars.

•Join children in their world: the world of play. That means getting on the floor at their level, whether it’s digging holes in the yard or building tents in the house, just let your imagination carry you away. And follow the giggles. You know you are on the right track when your children giggle with you.

•Reverse the roles. Let your child be the doctor, the monster, the strong and capable one, while you are the nervous patient, the helpless one and the bumbling person who falls over a lot. When preparing breakfast, let your child be the parent, pour your bowl of cereal and go over all your appointments with you. This gives your children a sense of control they often seek.

•Rough and Tumble. As long as it’s safe, it’s great to wrestle, race around, jump and horse around — moms included.

Being a parent is an excuse to play and be creative like a kid again. You have the opportunity to re-experience childhood through your children’s eyes. After all, why should kids have all the fun?

In conjunction with Rice Krispies’ Operation Spark initiative, Rice Krispies also released its Everyday Play report, featuring insight into the importance of play from some of today’s leading childhood experts. To access this report and additional simple tips for achieving quality play, visit www.ChildhoodIsCalling.com.