Playful Parenting! Did it help you?

[APixieInMyTea]

I've just downloaded this to the iPad on a few recommendations, I'm only just on the 2nd chapter and I'm quite impressed.

Thought maybe we can talk here about the book, did you find it useful, did it change the way you 'play' with your children?

Just from reading the first chapter, I already understand a lot more about my toddler's behaviour (good and bad) and looking forward to reading the rest.

LargLatte, I have just read it and found it helpful. My DCs are 7 and 6.

This is a great thread. Realy hoping it can help as since DC2 arrived I feel have lost my way with DD a little. Well, probably since before then as I had a rough pregnancy and couldn't physically sit on the floor and play with her for much of it due to bad SPD.

DC2 is only 7 weeks, but it seems like I've spent quite a lot of those weeks shouting. I think I do some of the things people have mentioned naturally with DD, but sleep deprivation and general exhaustion just makes everything so much harder and I'll suddenly lose my temper when before I probably would have taken a more playful approach.

largelatte - mine are 8 and 2. the books been great. it's taught me lots and really effected our family life in such a positive way.

I found this thread from googling about the book when it was mentioned in another thread. I am not a playful parent and haven't bonded well with my DS despite him now being 15 months. I struggle with his tantrums and have tried the strict/stern approach but feel this approach may be better both for me and my DS. My DH has a natural playful approach and so does his family but I always felt that kids shouldn't be rewarded for misbehaving by play as they won't learn right from wrong..if you get what I mean. However, after spending the last few days frustrated, stressed and just lost basically and even shutting myself in my bedroom at one point, I think i will get the book and try this. Just wondered if this approach has helped anyone else bond with their child? He still doesn't feel like he is mine

Sorry to hear that BlueCollie. I am reading this book at the moment and am finding it great.

I was mostly a patient playful parent until I was 6 months pregnant with dd2 and got tired and grumpy. Now dd2 is six months old and I'm an exhausted harridan most of the time! Plus dd1 is nearing 3 and is wanting to assert her independence more and more just when I don't have time or patience because the baby's crying and there's so much to do!

I love this book already after reading a few chapters and dd1's loving all the games. I'm finding that using play to re-enact naughty things that dd1 has done, like kicked her mother, or scary things that have happened to her, like an injection, is a real huge hit and causes huge fits of giggles. Actually now I think about it she hasn't kicked me while I change her nappy since the day we got all her teletubbies to kick each other while they were changing each others' nappies...that game went on for hours. But what a result, she used to kick me every time!

Sorry if this is a bit controversial, but my dp threatened to burn pp. I can see why he felt strongly about it. He felt that it was making me feel less confident rather than more and that I was starting to question his already playful approach. Made me more analytical of a relationship with dd that I was already underconfident with. One sentence in particular stuck with me, something to do with "if your child is attention seeking then just give them attention". At the time I was on my knees with tiredness after ds born after a serious illness and I didn't have it to give. Somehow, the tone of "how to talk...." seemed more forgiving, and they'd both got more than one child and seemed to talk to me in a kinder way. That book changed my relationship with dd and we are all pretty much in balance and expecting number three. Give or take....still need more time apart than I can have to stay entirely sane all the time!! But I know loads who love it. I only say this all just in case anyone else feels guilty for struggling to feel "playful" - I was recommended it by a good friend who found it really useful.

Hi, this is Larry Cohen, author of Playful Parenting. I am so happy to read the ways people are using the ideas and making them their own (and questioning it and figuring out different things for themselves). I am very pleased that PP has found a home in the UK. I am going to be in England twice in 2013 and wanted to spread the word among Uk'ers who are interested in playful parenting. In May I will be at a conference sponsored by the London Child Care Centre, and in July at a BabyCalm conference in Cambridge. Hope to meet some of you!

LarryCohen I've been flagging your book up on this thread here a little while ago
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/parenting/1518745-Parenting-without-punishments-rewards-support-thread?pg=9
so it might be worth going to say hello over there, I think the mums on that thread will be interested to know you're holding a conference here!