What is Playful Parent?
The Playful Parent project aims to develop and evaluate a novel parent-centered play intervention to enhance parental playfulness. The intervention combines cognitive training and experimental games to deliver a sequence of four theory-informed components key to the adoption of a playful approach to parenting. These include: (1) building a quality parent-child play routine, (2) playful framing and reframing, (3) fostering connections through play, and (4) enacting the playful “magical circle” with spontaneity and experimentation. Each component is complemented with a take-home activity to provide intentional exercises of what is learned in each session.
In addition to providing skill-building by teaching specific ways to incorporate play in parenting, Playful Parent uniquely integrates the dual focus on play (as behavior) and playfulness (as an approach). The cognitive training and experiential learning emphasize and impart the adoption of a playful approach that can be implemented across different parenting scenarios and extend to a broader set of life domains beyond parenting.
The Playful Parent project aims to develop and evaluate a novel parent-centered play intervention to enhance parental playfulness. The intervention combines cognitive training and experimental games to deliver a sequence of four theory-informed components key to the adoption of a playful approach to parenting. These include: (1) building a quality parent-child play routine, (2) playful framing and reframing, (3) fostering connections through play, and (4) enacting the playful “magical circle” with spontaneity and experimentation. Each component is complemented with a take-home activity to provide intentional exercises of what is learned in each session.
In addition to providing skill-building by teaching specific ways to incorporate play in parenting, Playful Parent uniquely integrates the dual focus on play (as behavior) and playfulness (as an approach). The cognitive training and experiential learning emphasize and impart the adoption of a playful approach that can be implemented across different parenting scenarios and extend to a broader set of life domains beyond parenting.
Playful Parent Play Books
Playful Parent Play Books are designed to support the Playful Parent intervention activities. Each Play Book provides a take-home activity and a selection of play activity ideas, strategies, and resources designed to reinforce what is learned during the training through intentional practices. Parents who did not participate in the Playful Parent training can also take inspiration from the pages of these Play Books to integrate more play in their parenting. Special thanks are extended to Marieke Dailey for her invaluable and skillful assistance in creating these Play Books.
Playful Parent Play Books are designed to support the Playful Parent intervention activities. Each Play Book provides a take-home activity and a selection of play activity ideas, strategies, and resources designed to reinforce what is learned during the training through intentional practices. Parents who did not participate in the Playful Parent training can also take inspiration from the pages of these Play Books to integrate more play in their parenting. Special thanks are extended to Marieke Dailey for her invaluable and skillful assistance in creating these Play Books.
