Respectful Parenting: Janet Lansbury Unruffled

Engaging in Your Child's Play Without Interrupting

Jul 22, 2020

Janet, an expert in child development, offers insightful advice on nurturing children's play. She discusses the importance of fostering imaginative play without interrupting their creative flow. Parents can encourage self-directed play in toddlers while maintaining an appropriate level of engagement. Janet emphasizes the delicate balance between allowing kids to lead their play and being responsive to their needs, enhancing their emotional and cognitive growth.

22:52

Episode guests

Janet

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Episode notes

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Creating an environment that supports self-directed play allows children to explore and engage independently without constant parental intervention.

Balancing emotional availability with boundaries helps parents encourage their child's autonomy while still acknowledging their need for connection.

Deep dives

Encouraging Independent Play

Fostering a child's ability to engage in self-directed play is essential for their development. Parents should create an environment where children feel free to initiate their own play without constant intervention. This includes allowing opportunities for the child to explore and decide on their activities while ensuring they feel supported and attended to. By being physically present yet emotionally available, parents can provide the secure environment necessary for children to flourish in independent play.

Nurturing Imagination Through Play

2min

Encouraging Self-Directed Play in Children

23min

A parent hopes to encourage her 21-month old’s self-directed play by sitting with her in her play area observing, “ready to respond if she engages with me.” Lately, she says, her daughter has been asking for help with tasks she can do by herself, and also actively directing both she and her husband to perform various roles. “She wants us to play, and she will watch.” This mom feels this dynamic may be stifling self-direction, so she’s wondering if Janet has any suggestions how she can encourage her daughter’s play without participating.

For more advice on common parenting issues, please check out Janet's best-selling books on Audible, FREE with a 30-day trial membership if you use this link: adbl.co/2OBVztZ.

Paperbacks and e-books are also available at Amazon, Google Play, Barnes & Noble and Apple Books.

Janet's exclusive audio series "Sessions" is available for download. This is a collection of recorded one-on-one consultations with parents discussing their most immediate and pressing concerns (www.SessionsAudio.com).

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