Every other Tuesday morning the girls and I have the opportunity to play, dance and learn together at my church’s Wee Play program. Wee Play has been part of our lives for 3 1/2 years–since my oldest was only one and a half and my middle child was a newborn! They have grown up with Wee Play, and it has helped me grow, too.
Because moms, dads and caregivers attend each session with their child(ren), we get to play with our kids, watch them develop friendships with other kids in the program, and celebrate milestones together.
I’ve seen how this program has helped my girls develop a variety of skills.
During literacy/ circle time, they used to run away (okay, so one of my girls in particular…I’ll not mention any names) and now they listen and enjoy the stories.
When it’s time to dance, they have grown from just standing and watching to dancing enthusiastically.
Wee Play was the first time that my two oldest used scissors, and that my youngest colored.
Wee Play is the much-needed opportunity to do messy, sensory things that are just so hard to have them do at home.
Wee Play helps them with gross motor skills, in a safer way than jumping off the living room couch , and sliding down the stairs belly-first “like penguins,” my five year old explained to me the other day when I caught them doing just that.
And since my girls are not in preschool, Wee Play exposes them to learning opportunities they might not have otherwise. In one of our all-time favorite classes, we got to see baby chicks up close and personal.
This past week’s class offered another great learning opportunity. The theme was teeth and how to keep them healthy, complete with a “tooth brushing” craft and a clever “flossing” activity, both of which my girls loved.
Just as important, if not more, through Wee Play my girls have grown so much in their interactions with other kids. And we adults have developed camaraderie and friendships, too. I breathe a little easier just stepping into the room. Being surrounded by my little ones all day sometimes makes me feel isolated from other adults. Wee Play always reminds me that I’m not going it alone.
Finally, it reaffirms for me the importance of play. In a world where it seems our kids are having to grow up faster and faster, and their time is more and more constrained, playtime can fall by the wayside. But they need play, now more than ever.
And so do we!
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