When you cater to your child’s need for play, you can get your cup of coffee or tea and drink it while it’s still hot. You can go do laundry, read a book, write those emails, or have a zoom meeting. Your children will be absorbed in a way that you never thought possible, without a screen.

My friend Avital runs an incredible parenting and family platform (Hi, Fam!). 

During a season where she was mostly solo parenting, Avital felt exhausted at the end of every day. It felt like she was chasing her tail just trying to keep a semblance of order while also providing for her kid’s needs. Between that, taking care of the home, and working a job to make ends meet while her husband was in a demanding residency (and gone a lot), life was very chaotic and busy…yet it felt like she got nothing done. 

Can you relate? 

She wanted to find a way to help meet her kid’s needs while also allowing herself to get important things done, and have some moments to herself, without resorting to using screens all the time. 

So using her background in design and with a lot of testing and trial and error, she created 5 play zones that helped her kids play independently for hours a day (yes…hours!), while also developing their skills, which is really what play is designed to do. 

All mammal cubs are hard wired to play. It’s how they develop the skills necessary to become a functioning adult. Play helps kids develop psychologically, emotionally, socially, academically, and physically.

When you use these 5 play zones, you can cater to all of these needs AND give yourself pockets of time to do the things you need to do (or just read a book, take a phone call, or go to the bathroom by yourself!)

It may sound too good to be true, but it works. I’ve used her tools and they’re incredible. My kids went from always needing screens in order for me to have a moment to myself or get something done around the house, to learning how to play on their own.

In addition, she’s going to share some thoughts and ideas on creating family goals with your partner so that you can make day-to-day decisions that get you closer to the vision you have for your family. 

Enjoy!