Playing at home, encouraging your children to initiate ideas, create and use their imaginations, to be physically active outdoors and to move away from TV, computers and electronic games is one of the greatest gifts and opportunities we can provide for children.

Remember that to be able to problem solve, take risks, negotiate, talk and converse with others, to try out new things and bounce back when some things don't work or go the way you expect  are all important life skills.

Never underestimate the importance  and significance of children learning to entertain themselves,  and for your children to learn that life is not simply moving from one event or scheduled activity after another. Often the most simple aspects of playing at home are the richest and one of the things we most remember as adults when we look back on childhood.

Listed below are some suggestions to help you help your child learn to play at home.

• Avoid booking in extra scheduled activities frequently during the week. Try to have at least 3 home nights after school where children actually have time to play that is unrushed before dinner and bed routines.
• Provide some resources that leave room for your child's imagination and encourage creativity. For example, cardboard boxes, dress ups, lots of sticky tape and scissors, paper to draw and make things with, regular play dough, plasticine, clay to mould, lego and mobilo to construct with.
• Try buying toys that encourage imagination. Things that children can construct, design, manipulate and change from one day to the next. Things like train sets, blocks, lego, construction toys.
• Encourage your children to spend time outdoors. Make a veggie garden or plant some seeds outdoors. Climb trees, make cubbies outside with old blankets.
• Have balls, cricket bats, tennis rackets, and a range of ball sports for children to kick, throw, and use their general coordination skills.
• Limit Screen time (TV, DVD's, Nintendos, computer use and games). For children under 2 years, children do not require any screen time. For 3 years and over only about an hour in total a day.
• Have a stock of board games that can be played with regularly.
• Some children may actually need you to help them engage in their play to get them started.
• Persevere with encouraging your children to learn how to initiate ideas and play at home creatively. It is tempting to give up or turn the TV back on. Being consistent with your expectations that children have to play and be outside pays great dividends.
• Remember that providing time for children to learn to play, to imagine, to create, to think, to explore and to self initiate is provided the building blocks of a happy and successful learner who does not need an adult or a structured program to keep them occupied 100% of every day.