Explore the Power of Play

What’s So Great about Play? Play builds brains.
When kids play, they grow the skills they need to thrive at home, in school and everywhere else.

Kid-Powered Play
Play is most powerful when a child takes the lead.

It’s kid-powered play when your child is…

Having a good time
Exploring freely
Showing interest
Moving and thinking

You can enhance your child’s playtime by practicing a few simple tips:

Let Kids Explore Freely

Focus on the Process

Pose Challenges

Embrace Repetition

View Mistakes as Opportunities

The Powers of Play!

Confidence

Showing grit and persisting when the going gets tough

Creative Thinking

Challenging assumptions and generating ideas

Critical Thinking

Testing ideas, making adjustments and drawing conclusions

Collaboration

Showing compassion and valuing others’ contributions

Communication

Listening, understanding and expressing thoughts

Coordination

Building endurance, maintaining balance and moving with precision

Self-Control

Sensing how to act, coping with confusion and adapting

Stay Informed

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10 West Seventh Street
St. Paul, MN 55102

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651-225-6000

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mcm@mcm.org

Supporting Partner

Parent resources are funded in part with money from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund that was created with the vote of the people of Minnesota on November 4, 2008.

Let Kids Explore Freely

Kids love to explore their world through play. A parent’s job is simple: Give children the time, space and freedom to do so.
When kids play, they naturally learn, grow and develop. How awesome is that?

Try This…
Urge children to consider (and follow) their own interests

Like This…
“What do you want to explore first?”
“What do you want to do next?”
“What do you think is possible?”

Try This…
Give kids a chance to tackle new activities by themselves (resist the urge to demonstrate the “right way”)

Like This…
“What do you think this thing does?”
“I wonder what will happen when you…”
“What is your plan?”

Try This…
Ask kids to reflect on an experience or activity

Like This…
“How do you feel about it?”
“What do you like about this?”
“Tell me more”
“What do you mean?”

Focus on the Process

When a child acts out a story, paints a picture or tackles a new puzzle, she is exploring. The learning and growth happens in the doing, not in the arriving. When you as a parent see joy in the journey and express delight in the process, you are helping a child learn to think critically, act independently and solve problems.

Try This…
Talk about HOW a child is doing something, not just WHAT they’re trying to do

Like This…
“I see how you stacked the little blocks on top of the big ones to build a tower.”
“I noticed you connected the tubes to get the ball to roll down.”
“I see how you mixed the colors to create a shadow.”

Try This…
Ask open-ended questions to reveal and extend a child’s thinking

Like This…
“How did you decide to do that?”
“What have you tried so far?”
“What do you think will happen next?”

Pose Challenges

Challenges, problems and surprises fuel development. They force kids to take their thinking and physical abilities to the next level. Stretching themselves, trying new things and overcoming bumps in the road — this is how kids develop resilience, confidence, creativity and critical thinking. Sounds like a plan!

Try This…
Ask questions that create plot twists

Like This…
What would happen if…”
Everyone had wings?
The lights went out?
A rhino showed up?

Try This…
Give kids time to work through challenges on their own

Like This…
“What have you tried so far?”
“Why do you think that happened?”
“What are you going to try next?”

Try This…
When needed, guide without taking over

Like This…
“I wonder what would happen if you.. (insert helpful tip here).”

Embrace Repetition

Repetition has power. It’s how kids (and adults) build their confidence, develop their bodies and master their world. Next time you find yourself getting bored while your child repeats an activity, ask yourself exactly what has them so fascinated. Also, try to notice adjustments your child makes each time they repeat something.

Try This…
Remember that hearing “Again! Again!” is a good thing – repetition breeds confidence.
Think about WHY a child is so into a particular activity. What about it is so fascinating?
Look for adjustments a child makes each time they repeat an activity

View Mistakes as Opportunities

Mistakes and failures are part of life… and that’s a good thing. When you don’t succeed the first time, you’re forced to think critically and creatively. What went wrong? Why? What should I try next?
Overcoming mistakes and mishaps develops a child’s confidence (“I know I can do this!”), their independence (“I can do this myself”) and their creativity (“What if I try something different?”).

Try This…
Talk about a child’s efforts and methods (focus less on the outcome)

Like This…
“I see how you…”
“I noticed you’re really focused on…”

Try This…
Ask open-ended questions that encourage kids to adapt

Like This…
“Why do you think that happened?”
“If you could do it over again, what would you do?”

Try This…
If needed, offer helpful hints in the form of questions

Like This…
“Have you thought about…?”
“What do you think would happen if…(insert helpful tip here)?”

Explore the Power of Play

Let Kids Explore Freely

Focus on the Process

Pose Challenges

Embrace Repetition

View Mistakes as Opportunities

The Powers of Play!

Confidence

Creative Thinking

Critical Thinking

Collaboration

Communication

Coordination

Self-Control

Stay Informed

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Minnesota Children's Museum

Minnesota Children's Museum

Support the museum with a recurring donation!

MUSEUM INFORMATION

EQUITY and INCLUSION

MORE WAYS to PLAY

Let Kids Explore Freely

Focus on the Process

Pose Challenges

Embrace Repetition

View Mistakes as Opportunities

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