{"id":18055,"date":"2014-08-19T02:00:27","date_gmt":"2014-08-19T09:00:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/activeforlife.com\/?p=18055"},"modified":"2026-03-24T21:27:56","modified_gmt":"2026-03-25T04:27:56","slug":"8-raisons-pour-lesquelles-les-parents-devraient-jouer-avec-leurs-enfants","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/activeforlife.com\/fr\/8-raisons-pour-lesquelles-les-parents-devraient-jouer-avec-leurs-enfants\/","title":{"rendered":"8 raisons pour lesquelles les parents devraient jouer avec leurs enfants"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Editor’s note: This article was updated on May 9, 2025.<\/em><\/p>\n\n

In the talk around getting kids active, all of us have probably heard people say, \u201cKids should just go outside and play.\u201d Nice idea, but we know it doesn\u2019t work, and we’ve discussed here on Active for Life a few reasons why<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n

But there\u2019s another version of this sentiment that especially bothers me. In the last couple of years, I\u2019ve heard some people say, \u201cParents shouldn\u2019t need to play with their kids.\u201d I’ve heard this remark many times, and it\u2019s always delivered in a disparaging tone, as if playing with your kids is something bad and wrong.<\/p>\n\n

Really?<\/p>\n\n

As best I can tell, the authors of these remarks seem to imagine that playing with your kids represents mollycoddling. That\u2019s nonsense. If we’re talking about kids ages 3-10 years especially, there are good reasons why you should gleefully play with them. I\u2019m going to give you seven.<\/p>\n\n

1. Sometimes, no one else will<\/h2>\n\n

Quite simply, you might be living somewhere where your child has no one close in age to play with. What do you expect them to do? Play Frisbee by themselves? Chase the neighbour\u2019s dog down the street? You\u2019re not mollycoddling your child if you decide to get a ball and a couple of gloves to play catch. You\u2019re not inhibiting their ability to make friends by playing a bit of one-on-one soccer or basketball or badminton. You\u2019re making sure they get an active start in life despite awkward circumstances. And it’s very unlikely that you’ll have to be their sole playmate forever.<\/p>\n\n

2. You provide an important active role model<\/h2>\n\n

When you play with your child, you demonstrate that play never goes out of style, and you show them that you value physical activity. You also get to model soft-skills such as sportsmanship and effort. You can be sure of one thing: your kids are watching you. And they will imitate you. (Read this article<\/a> to learn more about active parenting styles and find which one most resonates with you!)<\/p>\n\n

3. You develop their movement skills<\/h2>\n\n

Fundamental movement skills<\/a> are basic movements that kids need to start developing from an early age so they can become physically literate. Again, it\u2019s not necessarily about becoming a superstar athlete. These are basic life skills that are every bit as important as learning to read and write.<\/p>\n\n

4. You set them up for lifelong health<\/h2>\n\n

As you start your kids on the path to physical literacy and a love of physical activity, you set them up to become active for life. Consequently, they are more likely to enjoy greater lifelong physical, mental, and emotional health. As countless generations of grandparents have advised their offspring, you ain\u2019t got nothing if you don\u2019t got your health.<\/p>\n\n

5. You nudge them in the direction of scholastic success<\/h2>\n\n

New research is constantly emerging about the positive correlation between physical activity and improved academic performance<\/a>. What would you rather do: Spend 30 minutes laughing and playing with your child four days a week or battle through 30 minutes of helping them with their homework every night because they’re having attention issues at school due to being chronically inactive?<\/p>\n\n

6. You bond with them<\/h2>\n\n

If you make it fun, you will forge deep bonds with your kids by playing with them. I played with all three of my kids as they were growing up\u2014soccer, basketball, badminton, baseball, Frisbee, tennis, cycling, and more\u2014and I’m grateful that I did. Each of them went on to form other friendships, do lots of different sports and physical activities, become good students, and inherit happy memories of playing with Dad. Which is good because my RRSPs don\u2019t amount to much.<\/p>\n\n

7. You discover the joy of play again<\/h2>\n\n

There can be much laughter and pleasure in movement and play. When was the last time you experienced it? You\u2019re never too old to play, and there\u2019s no shame in hanging out with children and acting like a kid yourself. As Dr. Peter Gray explains below, you get to enjoy one of the greatest gifts of being alive. You also reduce your blood cortisol and increase your serotonin\u2014without prescription drugs! \u00a0What a concept.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n

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