HOW TO BE PLAYFUL AND AFFIRMING
HOW TO BE PLAYFUL AND AFFIRMING 1. Accept what the child is doing, then playfully join his activities. 2. Be more interesting than child’s distractions. 3. Be animated, funny, silly. 4. Identify and respond to little positive or new things your child does. 5. Reward child for doing “better” not doing perfectly or like an adult. 6. Show him new things to do in playful nonjudgmental ways. 7. Try to reduce tension and stress between you and your child. 8. Frequently let him know you enjoy him with touches, smiles, or words. 9. Make the interactions fun for YOU too. WHAT TO AVOID 1. Interacting without smiles and humor. 2. Being business-like or task-focused during play sessions. 3. Judging and criticizing the child. 4. Showing irritation with what your child does. 5. Sending messages that tell your child he is doing something “wrong”. 6. Allowing yourself to be stressed with the child. 7. Trying to get the child to do the impossible. 8.