You may not know it, but August is Family Fun Month.
Lee Knowlton, CEO of Pump It Up, the nation’s leading children’s entertainment venues specializing in imaginative play, offers some tips for things you can do at home to engage in fun, active play with your family.
1. Get creative in the kitchen. Setting aside time for a meal inspired by the entire family helps kids view the kitchen as a new imaginative space.
2. Build a new world. Use whatever you can find around the house to co-create and decorate a new play environment for the entire family. Use a small tent, pillow cushions, cardboard boxes or anything you can imagine!
3. Redefine “family photos”. Round up outrageous outfits, accessories and props for an especially silly session of family photos.
4. Supply the tools. Encouragement, an imaginative space and maybe a little glitter will help fuel a child’s development and reduce time spent in front of a screen.
5. Take a breather. Setting aside time each day to slow down and participate in playtime as a family will help your child learn and feel safe in an imaginative environment. “Children are inspired to embrace their imagination when parents actively engage in play alongside them,” said Lee. “Pump It Up encourages imaginative playtime as a family to fuel each child’s development of creative problem-solving.”
