Engaging in play of their own choosing not only brings joy to children, but also helps them relieve stress and process negative experiences. It helps them develop their communication and conflict-resolution skills. They practice self-regulation—both emotionally and in their actions. They discover their own limits and experience the ups and downs of success and failure. They learn that they are capable of effectively influencing events in the world around them, and their ability to adapt flexibly also develops.
We encourage parents not to underestimate the developmental benefits of free play, as it lays the foundation for and reinforces the skills needed for both school and adult life. It is the family’s responsibility to provide sufficient time and a stable environment for this essential childhood activity!
Always encourage your child to be independent, and be there for them when they need you!
Making things too easy or too difficult for a child leads to the same result: both undermine self-confidence. If you solve every problem for them, you may undermine their future belief that they are capable of overcoming life’s challenges and shaping their own destiny. The opposite approach also leads to low self-confidence: if you fail to take their age into account and leave them to fend for themselves in situations that are still too difficult for them to handle.
As a parent, it’s often hard to find the right balance—there’s no one-size-fits-all solution. The key is for parents to know their child and themselves well. It’s worth asking yourself whether expectations regarding independence that are too high or too low for your child’s age actually reflect your child’s true needs. It’s possible that your own childhood experiences, your attitude toward parenting, and the parenting models and family expectations around you are distracting you from your child’s real needs.
A happy child grows up to be a successful adult! If you want your child to grow up to be a successful and well-adjusted adult, make sure they have a carefree, playful childhood!
You’re wrong if you think that learning that begins in preschool (writing, reading, school-level vocabulary) guarantees professional success in adulthood. In fact, the pressure of structured learning situations that begin too early can have a negative impact on motivation in school and lead to performance anxiety. Furthermore, it takes time away from practicing skills that are essential for success in school and in adulthood, such as adaptability, coping with stress, resilience, cooperation, conflict resolution, and communication. These are the foundations of competence, and they develop best through play. There will be plenty of time for learning in school! During preschool, let’s focus on building self-confidence and resilience by letting our children play freely!
Let your child play! Instead of overregulating and being overly protective, let them play freely, struggle, and—if it comes to that—make mistakes!
The experiences gained through play greatly enrich a child’s personality. Children’s behavioral and stress-management repertoires expand, and their social skills develop. It’s important to set boundaries at home and for parents to look out for their children, but excessive worry and restrictions can negatively impact personality development and the parent-child relationship. Over-regulation often triggers strong resistance in children, which can lead to unnecessary conflicts. Overprotectiveness, on the other hand, can result in a lack of self-confidence, social withdrawal, and an avoidance of failure. So set rules wisely—and only when absolutely necessary! Tailor the limits to your child’s age, abilities, and temperament! Let go of unrealistic fears, let them play, encourage them, and let them explore the world around them!
There’s no more effective way to develop a child than through play! An average young child needs three things for healthy development: love, security, and plenty of free playtime!
Children who are average and show no signs of developmental delays have no need for special development programs! These days, many parents view prioritizing free play as tantamount to neglect. It’s a common belief that they’re doing everything they can for their little ones only if they provide something extra, such as various enrichment classes. Yet children develop on their own while playing; this is how they practice the skills necessary for life. What’s needed is a loving, secure family and preschool environment where they can engage in activities carefree. If these conditions are in place, the adults around them have done everything possible to ensure the children’s harmonious development.
Let them be kids! Assigning homework too early can put your child off learning for years!
By the time school begins, children generally have developed a need to perform, a sense of responsibility toward tasks, and the ability to see tasks through. In other words, in addition to play, they now seek intellectual challenges; it is important to them to perform well, so they work attentively and persistently when faced with tasks. Task maturity cannot be fostered by burdening a child with learning too early. This can cause them to associate task situations with unpleasant experiences even before starting school, which may result in significant resistance or performance anxiety. In a preschool setting, it is beneficial to acclimate children to age-appropriate task situations; however, even a preschooler of average ability has no need for additional academic activities at home. This is because free play, plenty of physical activity, and a stimulating environment effectively help the nervous system mature and provide a solid foundation for learning skills.
You’re not a good parent just because you sign your child up for all kinds of structured developmental activities! No matter what the media and other parents keep saying, just listen to your own instincts and your child’s needs!
Many parents tend to think that it’s good for their child to attend enrichment classes. In fact, they often believe that this is what the child wants. But is it really about the child’s wishes? Is the child’s successful development the sole goal? Or is it rather the parent’s own wavering self-confidence that drives them to enroll a child who shows no signs of developmental delays in these classes?
We support parenting that is attuned to the child’s needs! Tuning in to their needs doesn’t mean we let them do whatever they want or let them call the shots; rather, it’s about flexibility: we don’t rigidly stick to principles, and we don’t act based on the opinions of other parents or family members, but instead raise our child by adapting to their temperament, abilities, and current emotional state. If we feel uncertain, we should definitely consult a professional—and not let acquaintances or the media determine whether our child needs developmental support!
Just be a “good enough parent”! There are no perfect moms and dads, but there are plenty of parents who are frustrated by their pursuit of perfection. Don’t chase after ideals—instead, relax a little and lower your expectations!
Of course, this doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try to grow as a parent. The key is that parenting shouldn’t be about desperately trying to conform, which can make everyday life miserable. Every parent and child is a unique individual, and parenting should be tailored to that. So it’s completely unnecessary to chase after ideals. If we scale back our expectations and try to be more at ease with who we are, we’ll be much more authentic to our children. It makes a difference whether a child grows up with parents who are overly perfectionistic and therefore frustrated, or in a family where the adults are real, flesh-and-blood people who serve as good role models of self-acceptance and self-identity for the younger generation.
The most successful people are able to work effectively both independently and as part of a team. With our games designed to foster cooperation, children can begin to develop and strengthen these two qualities as early as preschool!
In most job interviews, candidates are asked as early as the first round whether they can meet the following expectation: to be a team player while also being able to solve problems independently. But this quality is an advantage not only in the job market but also in one’s personal life. Just think about how couples and family members work together in everyday life, or when raising children! People who are independent when necessary and cooperative when needed tend to be more successful and well-balanced. That is why we believe it is essential for preschoolers to play with toys that help them practice these two important behaviors.
