Our chat with Play IQ parenting expert Carrie Lupoli
The early learning years are crucial in building confident, passionate young learners. And apparently play is crucial to this process. We’ve heard this before but as far as the destruction goes that constitutes play in our house (squiggly drawings on the walls, making toy cars “fly”, and death trap Lego structures that have caused serious harm to our feet), well…we weren’t quite sure.
We called on parenting expert Carrie Lupoli, in town to kick off the Play IQ campaign at the Fisher-Price Parenting Workshop, to share why play is important for healthy brain development, and the resources available for parents of children with special needs.
Hi, Carrie! Let’s get right down to the basics: what does it mean to play? Do we misunderstand the meaning of play in Singapore?
I think that sometimes the word “play” is perceived as “down time” for kids, but it is actually a crucial time for a child because in child-initiated play, our little ones can enhance brain development in the most effective ways. Brain development is rapid and most intensive in the first five years!
We confess that we’re a little clueless: what is Play IQ, and is it a quantifiable measure?
Mattel Fisher-Price’s Play IQ concept focuses on three key areas of child development – physical, cognitive, and social and emotional – that can be further enhanced with play. It is not a specific, international measure, but helps parents understand how to incorporate play in their lives, how it impacts their child and what skills are developed as a result.
Help us get started on this! What types of play can mums and dads engage their children in to enhance the full potential of their development?
Parents who interact with their children during play,take advantage of teachable moments, don’t force the activities to go any one direction, and help a child work through emotions, are playing effectively with their child!
Child-initiated play is really important as they explore their world in a way that makes sense to them and allows them to learn authentically. Children up to the age of two years old start with solitary play, and they won’t likely engage in interactive play with other children or even adults. From two to three years old, children will engage in more parallel play. They may play beside another child and grab each other’s toys, but it doesn’t mean they are engaging in interactive play (which usually takes place after they turn three years old). In such instances, parents can build social and emotional skills like making good choices, sharing, and learning good manners.
We love seeing our children learn more about the world around them. Is there a way to assimilate play and education to stimulate a child’s development?
Definitely! Every skill, from reading, math, character development, problem solving, and physical growth, can and should be taught through play. Until the age of six or seven, a child is not developmentally ready to sit and learn the same way school-age children are able to do. So often we think that if we do “more, earlier”, we are helping our children. In fact, what we should be doing is “different, earlier” to give them the skills they need to be successful in school.
How can engaging in play-based activities encourage parent-child bonding?
When I work with parents, I give them a list of 10 things that they need to think about in order to raise independent, successful adults. One of them is to offer physical and emotional affection. When a child feels secure, safe and loved, they are much more able to take risks, try new things and preserve through tough times. Playtime with a parent is a perfect opportunity to celebrate creativity, praise character and offer loving support when a child gets frustrated.
As a working mother yourself, how do you balance work and spending time with your children (and cap it all off with a good night’s rest)?
It is an ongoing struggle to keep that balance, but here are some useful tips!
– Work out role between you and your partner or other caregivers: I set aside time every Sunday to plan meals, do the grocery shopping, and take note of the kids’ activities for the week. It doesn’t necessarily have to be the Mum that does this! The important thing is to be clear on who is doing it and allow that person time to do so. I also prefer to wake up earlier than everyone else so I can get myself ready first before getting the little people together.
– Give the kids some responsibilities: My kids have a checklist in the morning for the things they are responsible for doing. Get dressed, brush your teeth and hair, pack your school bag, make your bed. If they don’t brush their hair, they go to school looking a little dishevelled, but they learn to do it the next time.
– Learn to say no: I am getting better at saying no to certain things, even if they are good things! I recently said I couldn’t volunteer at a school event although I would have liked to. I knew it would be wonderful, but sometimes I need to preserve time and not over-stretch. The same goes for my kids.
You founded Live and Learn Asia, a special needs consultancy firm in Singapore, in 2008. Tell us how parents of children with special learning needs can leverage play to enhance their child’s development.
It is pivotal to encourage language and communication even if your child doesn’t reciprocate. As parents, you can work with therapists to determine what kinds of activities would be beneficial for your children. A great resource for parents is the book Carolina Curriculum for Children with Special Needs, a fabulous guide for parents to measure where their child is compared to others. It also contains play-based activities they can engage in with their child to develop specific areas.
That sounds useful! What other resources are available for parents of children with special learning needs in Singapore to encourage the power of play?
There are many play-based preschools in Singapore that have staff and resources for children with needs. There are more and more preschools here with a play-based philosophy and a willingness to support parents in getting the resources and therapies they need. Preschools that I have worked with in these areas are White Lodge Preschool and Swallows and Amazons.
Pediatricians are also becoming well versed in understanding the power of play. Developmental pediatricians were very rare in Singapore in the past, but there have been more and more trained and practicing in the last 3 years.
Thanks for an enlightening chat, Carrie!
Find out more about Play IQ at the Fisher-Price Parenting Workshop this Saturday, 31 May, 9am-12pm at Mount Elizabeth Novena Hospital, 38 Irrawaddy Road, Singapore 329563. Email [email protected] for more information.
Images: Fisher-Price