Play—Good ForParents and Kids (NAPSA)—After a hard day at the office, the last thing on most ater Stories product. It containsall the elements that children need to build and create their own theater stories. The set includes multiple people’s minds is a gameof hide- and-seek or peek-a-boo. It’s not easy for parents to loosen up, get backgrounds and characters for down on thefloor, step into their children’s world, and experiencelife as a kid. But it just may help you become a better parent—and your child a better person. Larry Cohen, the author of Playful Parenting and a licensed psychologist specializing in children’s play and play therapy, argues that play is critical because it helps promote openness and trust between child and parent. “A playful parent is willing to be goofy, generous with attention, and tuned in to their child,” says Dr. Cohen. “The connection that comes from play fosters trust and openness between parent and child and can help children over- come emotional blocks, encourage their confidence, and enable them to deal effectively with sibling rivalry and othertricky problems.” Given this glowing assessment, it’s strange that play in our society isn’t taken more seriously. Noted researchers in the field, including Dr. Cohen, believe there is an over- emphasis on scholastic learning that is negatively impacting the way children play and develop. Recent studies on the topic have unlimited creative storytelling potential, in addition to accessory elements to build different stories. Playing with kids helps them develop confidence andcreativity. found that most American parents feel that it is more important to teach their young children the ABCs and 123s than to teach them how to imagine, share and prob- lem—solve. The truth, though, is that well-nurtured play can set the foundation for a child’s future success—both at school and within the world at large. The LEGO Company, founded on the principles of imaginative play, has launched a new, awardwinning product line for preschoolers called LEGO EXPLORE: The Complete Discovery System. The goal of LEGO EXPLORE is to spark a child’s natural sense of cre- ativity and stimulate his or her inclinations toward discovery and problem-solving. LEGO EXPLORE engages young children in cre- ative, hands-on learning, while capturing a sense of fun and play. Take, for example, the new The- Or how about Traffic City, an exciting set reflecting a busy city with lots of small interrelated play scenes. The set includes an emer- gency center, helicopter, stoplights, vehicles, and action figures that effortlessly get the imaginative juices flowing. Naturally, parents sometimes just want to step aside andlet their kids be kids. Child development experts believe leaving children to their own devices is often useful for fostering independence, as well as for giving parents a well-needed break. Children, too, occasionally prefer time away from their parents so that they can play freely and work things out on their own, without having to worry about adult intervention. Still, to reap the full benefits of play, children do need adults to play with them some of the time. This kind of play can be hard at first for many adults, but the payoff for both parent and child is price- less. For more information please visit www.legoexplore.com.
