Do you want to occupy and engage your kiddo so you can have a few minutes to drink your coffee, go to the bathroom without a mini shadow, or start dinner? Well, of course you do! An easy solution is always to turn on the tablet or TV and let your little veg out on the couch. But in today’s day and age, our kiddos are exposed to so much screen time that it’s nice to find a non-techi way to occupy them when possible.
Enter the Invitation to Play! There are literally thousands of ways that you could create an invitation for your kiddo and, the best part is that you decide how elaborate and time consuming they are to set up. You just need to know where to begin! So, let’s start with the basics:
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What is an Invitation to Play anyway?
An Invitation to Play is any intentional set up meant to engage and invite your child into play. Simple as that! It could be anything from a simple shift in toy arrangement in your child’s play space, to an engaging sensory bin that you created. There are truly boundless opportunities to invite and engage!
In our house, invitations to play are a daily thing. Sometimes they are more elaborate activities that I set up the night prior, and other times they are as simple as placing animals, plants, and some blocks out to encourage imaginative play. And that is the beauty of an invitation to play, it can be extremely simple or more complex!
Ok, now I know what an Invitation to Play is, but how do I get started introducing them in my home?
How to Introduce Invitations to Play in Your Home
I always say start small, simple, and familiar. If you’ve never set up sensory bins for your kiddos, don’t set up our Roll and Count Fine Motor Bin and walk away, expecting your littles to figure it out. You will have a LOT of rice to clean up! Just like anything with kids, you need to baby step into these invitations.
Start Small
Start small! Scrolling Pinterest for Invitations to Play can result in some truly beautiful and elaborate set up ideas. Great goals for the future, but not a great starting point. You want to start at a point where you know that you can have success without putting a ton of time or effort into your set up.
Making a quick small world set up or starting with a basket of materials is a great way to start small and let your kids ‘dip their toes’ in these invitations. Try this quick and easy dino set-up for sure success and some fine motor practice!
Start Simple
An Invitation to Play can be a beautiful, complex set up that took you 45 minutes to pull together the night prior. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that! But, when you are just starting these with your kiddos, you have no idea how long they will be entertained for. There is nothing more defeating than setting up this beautiful play scene and having your kiddos destroy it in less than 60 seconds. Cue the tears!
So, begin with a simple 5 minute set up to head off any Mommy breakdowns when your kids are just not that into it! Try this simply family favorite where we wash the alphabet!
Start Familiar
Begin with a familiar activity (that might be play dough, kinetic sand, blocks, trains or animals for you). You already know what your littles are interested in. Use that to your advantage and set up something you know they will love! Have kids with different interests? Set out a few bins (maybe trains, Barbies, and blocks) and you’ll be surprised at how they may play together!
And if even that is too much to think about doing, simply change up their play space. Declutter a bit and move some toys around. That simple act can breathe new life into forgotten toys.
When my kids have been in a rough patch, I will either set up their train tracks in a fun and exciting way or I will build a simple set up using their Lego Duplos. As soon as they see the set up, they are all about it! Typically, it will hold their attention for at least 30 minutes or so, sometimes much longer! And, being completely honest, I find something so soothing and therapeutic about setting up their toys. It’s actually a very calming activity for me at the end of a long day! I’m weird, I know, haha!
Try this quick and easy set up for your builder or block lover!
Gradually Introducing Invitations to Play
Let’s gradually introduce this concept to your littles so it is successful and gives you some time back in your day! Here is a suggested path. Remember, there is no right way to introduce these. Do whatever works for your family!
- Day 1: Switch up the play space
- Declutter, switch around the toys, maybe add something new
- Day 2: Pull out a familiar and favorite material (like play dough) and set it up in a new way (like our play dough sensory bin!)
- Add a few animals, some plants and a couple of tools – ask your kiddos to build a space for the animals
- OR pull out some letter stamps (or puzzle letters if you don’t have stamps) along with a few textured rollers and let your littles explore
- Day 3: Set up this simple shape invitation in under 5 minutes
- Day 4: Play with the alphabet in an easy, non-stress way
- Check out our favorite way here
- Day 5: Introduce a sensory bin
- Find all the details on how to do that (and what to use) right here
From there, choose one activity everyday to engage your littles in. Use that How to Create a Sensory Bin guide to create new and exciting set ups for your kiddos by utilizing different materials and new ways to explore.
Keep At It!
The most challenging part with any new habit is simply staying consistent. There may be days that you just don’t feel like setting something up. On those days, instead of turning on Paw Patrol, turn to a simple set up. Remember, it could be as easy as pulling out the blocks and animals or a bin of K’nex. And don’t forget, we have tons of simple set up ideas right here! Just take a look around and Pin them to a board or bookmark the site.
Thank you so much for reading, sweet friend! If you ever need ideas or support, I’m here for you! Find me over on Pinterest, DM me on Instagram or send me a direct email. We are in this together, one small activity at a time!
