“Play is the work of the child” said Maria Montessori.
Play is of utmost importance for children to understand and engage with the world around them.
Play is a child’s main way to learn and process new information and their
main outlet for expression. When we engage a child in play, we are allowing
them to process feelings and situations as well as express themselves in an
indirect way.
A great way to help a child to show you their thoughts and feelings is to role-play with them. Using toys, puppets, or teddies; give your child the option to control the whole game or you can give some direction if they’re not sure. Play at least two scenarios, one where you use your toy to play the role of your child and then swap roles so that your child plays the role of themselves using their toy. You will find that your child will inadvertently express some of their hidden feelings when playing “themselves” or when telling you how to play at being them. This game can give you some insight into how your child views the world around them and the other people in their daily life.
