Solutions Through Fun is an initiative started by the British Toy and Hobby Association (BTHA) as part of their ongoing campaign to highlight the value of play in child development. In the words of Oscar Wilde: ‘The best way to make children good is to make them happy’.
The BTHA have produced an immensely useful and informative booklet that is intended to provide parents and carers with help in improving the quality of the time that they spend with their children. Interestingly, all of the tips and suggestions in the booklet come from children themselves. (Download ‘Solutions Through Fun‘ PDF 982kb)
As noted in the booklet, in 1980 less than a third of mothers of young children worked whereas in 2004 around 55% of mothers of children aged between 1 and 5 were working. The amount of time that working parents can spare to spend playing with their children has fallen significantly and many parents and carers wish that they had more time to spare. The little time that is available is often eaten up by domestic chores, DIY and restng after a hard day at work.
The booklet provides some genuinely useful, practical ideas that can be used to make family life more fun. Even if you only have ten minutes to spare this valuable time can be put to good use in playing with your children by telling jokes, doing puzzles together, playing short games, reading together and even doing the housework!
Children learn a lot through playing with their parents or carers. Footballs, board games, puzzles and traditional childrens toys will all be familiar playthings that most parents will recall having played with when they were young. Sharing their experience with their youngsters can fulfill the childrens desire to interact and have fun together.