One of the responsibilities of parenthood is to influence your child's leisure time and use of time. However, this does not only mean setting limits on the use of smart devices or managing bedtimes, but also setting aside time for the adult to do things together. To a large extent, play is an important part of children's daily lives, and it is an important part of the family's time together.
This is also revealed by a survey commissioned by HopLop, in which 1000 Finns answered questions about play and how children spend their time. Of these, 76% had play and playfulness in their lives in one way or another. Despite this, 91% of respondents thought that children should play more.
Concerns include excessive screen time, goal-oriented exercise and performance-oriented activities that take children away from play and relaxed family time. While as many as one in three children stop playing before starting school, family time spent playing together can be cut short.
Play is something the family does together
69% of family respondents to HopLop's survey wish their child had more relaxed and unpressured free time with family and loved ones. Could it be that the decline in leisure time together is due to the high levels of concern about electronic devices and overly performance-oriented and competitive hobbies?
Children's time is ultimately the responsibility of their parents, so adults play an important role in enabling children to play. Given how many adults would like children to play more, they themselves can encourage children to play together by their own example. Even if youth slang, social media and technological gadgets don't feel like their own, every adult has been a child at one time or another. That's why adults are sure to find fun and inspiring things to do, including sports and other fun activities.
Every family has its own ways of spending time together, between children and adults.
- Shared mealtimes are a good way to catch up on the day and what has been learned at school, pre-school or day care. Eating together can also help you get used to new tastes and discover new favourites on the menu. Make the dining table a phone-free zone and the daily screen time will decrease as if by itself. Children can also be encouraged to help with meal preparation.
- Reading together is the best time to spend together, whether your child can read or not. Choose one of your favourite books or find something new to read at the library. Younger school children can also join in and practise reading aloud.
Of course, exercise and play are activities that activate both the body and the mind. Best of all, you can play almost anywhere, indoors or outdoors. If the weather is not good, you can also take part in physical play at HopLop.
Adults and children spending time together at HopLop
HopLop encourages both children and their parents to work together through play and physical activity. HopLop provides a fun and family-friendly framework for doing things together. Both big and small children and their families are welcome, and older school children can also come to HopLop to play on their own.
