Family Well-being

Family well-being means that there is an understanding of acceptance, belonging, resilience, and the ability to meet individual and group needs. Just as families need food, shelter, transportation, and financial resources, play is an essential part of their well-being as a group and as individuals.

The video shows six playmakers talking about why family play is so important and sharing their ideas for making family play a priority. “With Joan Almon of the Alliance for Childhood, Dr. Kwame Brown of the FUNction Method, Mike Hall of Strong Fathers-Strong Families, Jessica Kohnen Karaska of Playworks Baltimore, Danielle Marshall of KaBOOM!, and Liza Sullivan of ThroughPlay.”

Takeaways

Barriers families face to playing: Adults are overworked by careers and home labor and are too tired to engage in play, Technology distracts them from play. There is a lack of environments for play

Benefits of Playing Together: Gain a better understanding of each other through imaginative play as it promotes speaking more freely. Play gives bonding opportunities for children with caregivers who work outside the home.

Play can be easy: Play doesn’t have to be elaborate, homemade games and outdoor play are encouraged! Children can engage in their caregiver’s everyday tasks as play. Caregivers can engage children by leaning into their imaginative play.