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Experience More of the Playful Side of Parenting

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This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Motherhood is the most amazing blessing, but it definitely isn’t easy. Many of us tend to get lost in the busy routines of parenting and could use a little more fun and play in our days. So we want to share some ideas from our partner Gymboree Play & Music for how you can make parenting more “PlayFull”.

Experience Playful Side of Parenting


 

I’ll never forget the first time I saw my nephew’s face light up with wonder at a Gymboree Play & Music class.

I wasn’t yet a mother myself, and I’d come along with my sister and her son to the class. As he climbed through the colorful tubes, reached out to burst bubbles and toddled around the bright play structures, I was blown away by the wonder of childhood.

I couldn’t wait to have children of my own.

Gymboree Real Play

The room was full of young mothers and their toddlers. The women chatted, laughed and enjoyed a break from their usual routine.

My sister relaxed and spent time with the other moms as I played with my nephew and soaked up the joy.

Becoming a mother is the most amazing journey… but it can be lonely… and challenging.

The best way to thrive as a happy mom is to spend time with friends and play with your children in a relaxed setting where you don’t feel judged.

But, chances are high, most of your long-term friends didn’t have babies at the exact same time you did. So you need to make new friends.

And making new friends when you’re cooped up in the house is impossible. You need to sign up for a class and meet women who are at the same stage of life that you are.

Gymboree Play & Music classes are the perfect place to have fun with your child and make the friends you need to nourish yourself as a woman.

Gymboree Music Class

Gymboree Parents with Kids

Moms know even the simplest adult small talk can be riveting after a day alone talking only to a baby.

[Tweet “The simplest adult small talk can be riveting after a day alone talking only to a baby.”]

Gymboree Play & Music

Since 1976, Gymboree Play & Music has encouraged children’s development and inspired families through play, music and art classes for parents and children ages newborn to five.

In honor of their 40th anniversary, Gymboree Play & Music, is inviting parents to embrace the play in everyday by experiencing the joy of PlayFull Parenting.

Moms Just Want to Have Fun

Click Here for the full infographic

The PlayFull Parenting movement is all about helping modern moms find more ways to add play into their day.

Gymboree Play & Music is offering parents a free class at participating centers nationwide.

40 Ways to Add More Play Into Everyday

Sometimes we moms need reminders and suggestions for ways to add more fun into our routine. Download and print this stack of play cards with 40 unique ideas for adding more play.

Gymboree Play Cards

40 Ways of Play Cards – Free Printable

I love the variety of ideas. There are fun twists to make games your kids may already play even better.

Here are a few of my favorites…

#19 TUNNELS
Engage in tunnel play at home by lining up chairs and draping with a sheet. Shine a flashlight into the ‘cave’ before entering!

While my kids have always played “forts”, I never thought of helping them put together longer “tunnels” and then using a flashlight to guide the way. How awesome!

#21 FEET PAINTING
Instead of finger painting, flip it upside down and try feet painting with your child. Lay down a white drop cloth and have fun stomping around with your colorful toes!

#38 COLOR HOP
Play “color hop” by placing pieces of construction paper on the ground. Shout-out the color you hop on as you “1, 2, 3…Hop”!

Get the full list of the 40 ideas in this free printable Gymboree 40 Ways Cards.

gymboree class

 

For more information, or to find a Gymboree Play & Music location near you, visit gymboreeclasses.com, and follow along on YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram.

Pin It for Later

How to experience more of the playful side of parenting

 

Gymboree Play and Music Infographic
40 Ways to Add More Play into Everyday

 

Written by Susan Carraretto, co-founder of 5 Minutes for Mom
Talk with me: @5minutesformom and Facebook.com/5minutesformom
Pin with me at pinterest.com/5minutesformom

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130 Comments

  1. my crew loves to spend their time outdoors …. we do a lot of bike riding, walking , anything to do with water or a ball… on rainy days we’ll do a craft or bake

    Reply

  2. I love to have fun by visiting our national parks. We like to go on long hikes and explore nature. The waterfalls that we encounter are wonderful and amazing. My kids love to get their pictures standing close to them. afterwards we will refresh in the lake or go for ice-cream.

    Reply

  3. My baby niece loves playing outside in the yard. Everything is so exciting and fun in her eyes and she has tons of energy!

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  5. My two daughters and I love to go back yard camping and having fun is one of the requirements. Would love to have some new activities to do while we’re out by the fire or in the tent cuddling our sleeping bags.

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  6. My baby is only a few months but I like to sing songs and animate them. I dance around with my son singing away and we both have fun!

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  19. The same ‘ol routine gets boring and mundane for everyone involved… So, switching things up with plenty of outdoor activities & other new interesting crafts or things to do together, is always important! 🙂

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  25. I bring my kids fishing ALOT, and if we are not fishing were camping.. We love to spend our time outdoors!!

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  28. I like to add fun by going out and enjoying the sun as much as possible, running through the sprinklers with the kids, and coming up with fun new things to do like a dance party with glow sticks on the ceiling fan, just little things to brighten the day with fun and play

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  34. Would love to give this to my niece for her two precious little boys. Thanks so much for the opportunity.

    Reply

  38. My kids add a lot of fun to my life. We go to museums, parks, etc. It’s rare that I go out without my kids.

    Reply

  39. I want to cherish each moment! Outdoor time is key! I love all of the ideas you have, and playing outdoors is great for my little toddler babygirl!

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  40. My kids and I love the outdoors especially playing in the pool, making smores around the fire pit, playing on the playground, jumping on the trampoline, growing fruits and vegetables from our garden, playing basketball, playing soccer, freeze tag and riding bikes.

    Reply

  44. I am an older mom with four grown children, I really enjoy being a grandma of two grandson’s right now.

    Reply

  51. I love collecting insects with my son and then coming back home to figure out and study what we’ve caught.

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  54. I’m the Grandma to a smart 1 year old little sweetheart. I love taking her for walks and showing her animals on the farm and the trees how they grow. I let her touch the leaves and show her the apples growing from blossoms to forming yummy apples. She loves going for walks and I love teaching her all about nature including all my flowers I grow.

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  57. I always try to smile and have fun with everything i do with the kids! making everything fun adn not a chore makes it easier to get through the day and no cranky kids!

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  59. I love asking my kids their opinions of what they think of new foods and of trying new events like golfing instead of bowling. It’s interesting how they compare things!

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  62. Just giving in and playing with my little. I also like to find new things for her to do that can be fun for all of us. And I TRY to find ways to make what I’m doing interesting and fun as well. Playing/Living is Learning, right?! 🙂

    Reply

  70. We live just a couple minutes from Mammoth Cave National Park so we go hiking, site seeing, let the kids cave explore. It really keeps them active during the summer.

    Reply

  73. My kids & I love going to the amusement park. In the summer, we go approx. every few weeks.

    Reply

  82. We sing up made up songs. We make funny faces and take pictures together. We craft together. And we play made up games outside.

    Reply

  88. I like anything that makes my kids smile. They love the outdoors so swimming playing soccer or basketball really anything

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  89. I’m a working mom so I try to find time on the weekends to do fun activities with my daughter. We’ll go to the park, or the nature center, or even just for ice cream.

    Reply

  90. I like to look at a local monthly calendar of events to find lots of family friendly activities.

    Reply

  93. I like doing anything I can outside with my kids…in a world of electronics and tablets its nice to get the kiddos out and play.

    Reply

  99. We’re always dancing! Going to enjoy dancing with my twins until they’re old enough to find me embarrassing!

    Reply

  101. teaching my kids how to fish, catch firefly’s, make snow angels, make a doll house out of a cardboard box all the things that are long forgotten but were so much fun

    Reply

  102. I love do walking with my little one and going to new parks. Allows us both of us to make new friends along the way.

    Reply

  108. My son & I like to have random dance breaks, especially when we might be having a rough day. A little silly dance break always brings us a smile!

    Reply

  110. Finding fun things to do around town like our local zoo (which is one of the best in the country) or Metroparks! There is also a foundation nearby that has lots of educational fun things like a live beehive you can view from inside, a fossil dig and koi fish that you can feed!

    Reply

  115. We have the most fun when I take him someplace small that he can run around in for a couple hours. Staying on schedule with naps and meals is important.

    Reply

  119. Playing dress up and creating baking treats and decorating cookes, Making a vegetable garden with a scarecrow. Beach camping and ghost stories..We love to make craft projects of all times and take long walks in the woods gathering treasures.

    Reply

  121. We have pop up tunnels that my 2 year old loves to play with!! I’ve never been to a Gymboree class but would love to take my toddler.

    Reply

  122. One of my favorite ways to play at home with our daughter is to add a fitted crib sheet to the top of her toddler bed (we use knit sheets so they stretch). She can pretend it’s a house or tent or tunnel or spaceship!

    This summer we are on a mission to hit as many different parks in the city as possible. At one week in we are four down. 🙂

    Reply

  123. We love being outside and taking walks together. My son loves running around and playing monster together.

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  124. I love to take my sons to the park year round and local splash pads in the hot summer. I get some fresh air and adult interaction while they get their energy out!

    Reply

  126. I add fun into my life as a parent by doing things that we all enjoy, such as going walking at the park, or going to the mall together to shop!

    Reply

  129. I like being out and about with my daughter a lot. Sitting inside and playing dolls and stuff with her gets really boring 😛 Outside stuff is way better for me! The beach, the park, campground, etc. All stuff that I love that she does too.

    Reply