By Leigh-Anne Stradeski, Chief Executive of Eureka! The National Children's Museum
As you will see from previous blogs, at Eureka! The National Children’s Museum we believe that setting targets for children is restrictive and doesn’t allow them to discover the world at their own pace. However, when it comes to getting parents into the habit of playing with their children on a daily basis, a target of 10 minutes a day is a good starting point; it won’t take long before they begin to realise the benefits play brings to the whole family.
A report published recently by think tank Centre Forum recommends a Government campaign to promote better parenting based on the 5-a-day healthy eating concept. Its authors believe that this gives parents from all walks of life a manageable model to follow by incorporating specific activities into their family’s daily routine. Parents should aim to
- Read to your child for 15 minutes
- Play with your child on the floor for 10 minutes
- Talk with your child for 20 minutes (with the television off!)
- Adopt positive attitudes towards your child and praise them frequently
- Give your child a nutritious diet to aid development
There has been both support and criticism for the recommendations from the education, early years and families sector with some arguing that it is too prescriptive. Whilst we support the encouragement of families to start playing together on a daily basis, we believe that a complete shift in attitudes towards play is needed. Play should be a central part of family life – not a chore that has to be completed every day for a set amount of time.
The report aims to address social mobility but improving parenting and family cohesion is also important for well-being and happiness (something that the Government now recognises as a measure of progress). It may not be the answer to everything but play has a huge role in addressing a whole range of social problems and we believe that both children and adults can never play too much. What the report doesn’t recognise is that introducing play into family life isn’t just for the benefit of the children – it’s hugely beneficial for adults too, relieving stress, enhancing creativity and increasing well-being.
For the Government to use the recommendations in the report to best effect, it needs to offer parents, families and communities practical support and resources to get into play. Influencing family life and childhood development is about more than making sure parents are informed and advised, it is about helping them put that advice into practice.
Here at Eureka! we create an environment that is designed to stimulate the senses and inspire children and adults alike. Parents, families and children leave with new ways of looking at things, ideas, talking points and positive experiences to share, which they can take back into their everyday lives, no matter what their background, culture or circumstance.
We want to work with Sarah Teather and the Government to bring the 5-a-day parenting campaign alive at the museum, across the country and online.
