Do you wish you felt more playful with your kids? Are your daily activities using up the time you used to have, so you think you can no longer be playful? Are you feeling too serious about life?

Our world can sometimes feel like a serious place. By serious I mean intense situations or circumstances that we want to excel at, but come with a certain amount of stress. We take our jobs, homes and relationships seriously; and our parenting can feel very serious too, with everything we want to put into them. Schedules are created because we have many responsibilities and our kids may adhere to strict schedules as well. Where did all our playfulness go? Those feelings of being carefree in the moment with them seem to be gone. It was so easy when they were little and playfulness felt so natural.

As kids grow and become independent, the playfulness we used to share with them is often replaced with other things, but it doesn’t have to stay this way. We can maintain a playful attitude with our kids no matter what age they are. Playfulness is a form of communication, which can greatly reduce the stress often felt in the teen years.

How can you maintain the playfulness with your kids as they grow? Being playful with them can mean you are being good-natured, sharing in silly and funny moments, being fully present with what is happening. It is a light feeling that has the potential for so much joy.

Playfulness starts with your attitude and here are some tips to help you feel and ultimately be more playful first with yourself and then with your kids.

1~ Intention is your most powerful tool. Start with the simple intention of adding playfulness into your day. Being open to playfulness will send those opportunities your way.

2~ Make fun a priority in your day and with your kids. Everything you need to accomplish can be done with an attitude of fun. Make your tasks fun even if you are only doing them so you can get out and have some fun with your children. This helps create a more fun-loving attitude.

3~ Smile more and mean it. As we smile at the world and most especially at our kids, we feel better. A simple smile will help remind our kids that they are loved and their parent is fully present with them.

4~ Tap into your Internal Guidance System. As you ask you will receive, so ask yourself “what will help me feel more playful right now?” Listen for your response and don’t argue with it, trust it.

5~Be open to silliness. Allow what flows through you to express itself with your children, without feeling you have to sensor your responses. You don’t have to be the voice of reason and seriousness all the time.

6~Encourage playfulness with your kids. As you see them being or becoming too serious, encourage a lighter attitude, knowing all is well.

7~ Your To Do list can wait. All those things that are calling you to accomplish can wait a little while. As your children observe you being easier about life and everything there is to accomplish, they will have an easier less stressed attitude too.

8~ Stay organized. Being organized helps you feel more relaxed and when you’re relaxed you can be more playful.

Remember that life is supposed to be fun, no matter how much you have to do. We can make all of our tasks fun by changing what we say to ourselves. Balance is key to our happiness and that of our children. Feeling playful starts with a choice to be playful. Have an attitude of fun with yourself and your kids and the playfulness you seek will be there in full force.

In what ways are you playful?

© 2014.  Sharon Ballantine.  All Rights Reserved.