Getting to know what truly grabs our kids’ attention has been a fascinating adventure. I’ve talked before about the different kinds of play we’ve encountered, and trust me, it hasn’t been easy. My two children have totally different personalities and ways they like to play. It’s been confusing, to say the least. They enjoy playing games with me, their dad, the grandparents, and their friends — everyone brings a different kind of fun. This made it hard to figure out what they actually liked. It took us a while, but we finally got there.
What we discovered was that a lot of times, they would play the games that the grown-ups or other kids liked. They sort of went with the flow, playing whatever was suggested. This kind of play is important because it helps them learn how to get along with others, manage their emotions, and learn new things too.
Now, let’s talk about something called heuristic play. It’s when babies and kids play with everyday stuff instead of toys. The goal is to let them explore and learn from their surroundings. You can totally try this at home — give them some empty boxes or baskets and let them collect stuff. You can even get them involved in simple chores like picking up laundry. This makes them feel important and helps you out too!
Furthermore, our household items like katoris (small bowls) turned into vessels of exploration — one child filling them with water while the other stacked them. Folding clothes transformed into rhythmic rhymes, enhancing the play experience. These activities served as a gateway to understanding their inclinations better, uncovering their shared delight in water-based activities that could occupy them for hours.
We also found out that outdoor play was a big hit. Whenever we went for a walk, we’d encourage them to pick up interesting things they found — like seeds, leaves, or petals. We’d use these to make cool designs or even bring them home to use for crafty projects. This kind of play really sparked their curiosity about nature, and it’s something we still do on vacations.
Working and playing together was another trick that worked well. In our house with lots of generations, it was easy. We’d pick toys that we could all enjoy. Like, my daughter loved dolls and making clothes for them. We didn’t need anything fancy — even old clothes and things like hairclips worked. We’d sew and design together, passing on skills from grandma to mom and even to my daughter.
My son, on the other hand, loved playing with bendable pipe cleaners. He’d build things with them, pass water through them, put beads on them — it was simple but kept him busy for a long time.
From all this playing, we could see what our kids enjoyed. One was into building and fixing stuff, the other was all about making things look pretty. These insights helped us choose toys that kept them engaged and happy for longer. It wasn’t about buying the fanciest toys, but about picking things that matched their interests.
Stay tuned for more — we’ll be sharing about the next parts of this adventure in our next article. Until then, keep exploring and having fun!