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Rachel here with some quick tips to help you get the most out of playtime with your kids. This post is sponsored so extra thanks for reading and sharing.

Playtime is a necessity for kids (and for adults too, even if we don’t always admit it) but when life gets busy it’s not always as much of a priority as it should be. My kids love it when I jump in and play with them. It’s a great way to spend time together and I know that we are creating fun memories.

Making playtime something special takes a bit of work though. These are a few of the things I try and do whenever one of my kids wants to play together:

Turn off your phone

I’m terrible about getting distracted when playing with my kids. I have to turn off my phone or leave it in another room so I can avoid being distracted. My kids know when I’m giving them my full attention so they love it when I really make them the center of attention.

Incorporate your Child’s Favorite Characters

My kids love it when we incorporate their favorite characters into our play. My daughter has been loving the cute Little Charmers toys that go along with the popular Little Charmers show on Nick Jr. She has really picked up on the personalities of each of the characters so it’s fun to watch her have her own take on that as she plays.

Playing with toys from a favorite show is a great way to extend the interest beyond the screen. My daughter loves to watch one show then have me join in with her with a pretend play activity afterwards.

Focus on Play

I have a terrible habit. I’ll sit down to play with my kids and it turns into, “Let’s just clean up this spot on your floor so we can clean . . . or why don’t we just clean your whole room instead”.

It doesn’t make me a very fun play companion.

When you are playing, push everything else aside. Remember the way you played as a kid? Figure out how to do that. Really focus on playing. The more often you do it, the more naturally it will come.

Follow your Child’s Lead

Kids come up with the most creative things. I used to spend a lot more time trying to direct my kids’ play. Now I’ve recognized that they are way more creative than I am and I love seeing the things they come up with. Sometimes I may give them a little nudge, if I see a way that we can fit in something I know they will love, but for the most part I let them take charge.

You can find Little Charmers on Saturdays on Nick Jr. Learn more about Little Charmers and connect with them on Facebook and Instagram.

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Disclosure: This post is sponsored and Rachel received sample items for review.
Written by Rachel Lister, blogger at Busy Mommy Media.