9 Simple Ways to Play Every Day

by Stéphanie McGuirt View Bio

Stéphanie McGuirt

Stéphanie McGuirt is a homeschool mom and business owner living in beautiful Colorado with her husband, Bryan, and their 2 children.

She’s the author of Play: Simple & Creative Activities to Inspire and Engage, which she wrote based on the play she remembers as a child and continues to do with her kids. Her goal in writing this book is to inspire more hands-on playtime for children of all ages. She believes that play has the power to brighten our day in unexpected ways, and it doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive.

When she's not adventuring with her family or supporting clients in her business, she's busy with her chickens, Olivia & Cocoa, and working on a tiny homestead for sustainable living.

For resources and to learn more, visit stephaniemcguirt.com

If you grew up in the 90s, you maybe, like me, remember Saturday mornings. By 8 am, kids everywhere had jumped out of bed—their sleepy eyes glued to the TV. We called out to our parents to please adjust the antenna one more time and settled in with a big bowl of cereal to watch the lineup of Saturday morning cartoons… Bobby’s World, Pinky and the Brain, Recess, Animaniacs, Rugrats.

Now, having 2 kids of my own, I see how their world is full of far more distractions than a Saturday morning cartoon marathon. At their fingertips, they’ve got an endless stream of apps and shows competing for their attention. No TV antenna required.

With these many choices, it’s easy for kids to feel confused and overwhelmed. There are always simple ways to cut through the stream of digital noise and just have fun.

Making the time for play helps children to develop emotionally and socially. This means that they’re building a sound foundation of resilience, self-confidence, and self-expression to bring along into their adult years. Play invites all of us to engage our senses, imagination, and creativity.

There are endless benefits to eliminating unnecessary distractions, engaging in daily play, and finding joy in the little things life offers.

Let’s explore 9 simple ways to play every day:

1. Walk barefoot in the grass. Also called “earthing”, going without shoes has significant benefits to our bodies. Skin-to-ground contact not only enhances our immune system but also helps us to be “light on our feet” and move with greater ease. Walking or playing a game of tag shoe-free is an effortless way to feel good fast.


2. Dance. Kids are natural-born movers and shakers, and it isn’t until we become self-aware and self-conscious that we may neglect this instinctive habit to groove with the music. Encouraging our children to dance, and joining them, is excellent for improving physical strength, lifting moods, and connecting with each other. Create your own family’s special playlist on Spotify to make dance parties extra amazing.


3. Create an obstacle course at the park. Creating goals in play inspires team collaboration and boosts confidence in kids. Parents spend countless hours at playgrounds and parks, so why not mix up the routine a little? A fun way to do this is to create an obstacle course using the playground equipment. For example, instruct your child to, “Start at the top of the slide. Slide down. Climb the rock wall. Go down the stairs. Do 3 cartwheels. Climb the rope. And, done!” Use a timer to see how fast they can complete the challenge and if they can beat their time in round 2.


4. Take a nature walk. A walk outside can instantly relax and rejuvenate us, so instead of speeding past the variety of colorful flowers, bugs, and trees around us, take a little time to pause and explore your surroundings. You can do this by identifying, sketching, or simply asking questions about the wildlife you come across.


5. Try something new together. This could be a recipe, game, or place you’ve never been before. You never know what adventure might unfold when you try something you haven’t done before.


6. Write a book together. A small comic or picture book invites your child’s imagination to run wild while they build powerful storytelling skills. For a beautiful keepsake, have a print store professionally bind this special creation for you.


7. Play games you remember playing as a child. Timeless games like twister, leapfrog, tug of war, hopscotch, jump rope, and musical chairs are ones you can play just about anywhere. Bring out your inner child and play too!


8. Create a secret handshake. Make up a secret handshake only you and your child know. This could be a top-secret way to say “Good morning” or “Have a great day!”.


9. Be curious together. We ask questions like, “What’s your favorite animal?” “Tell me about a cool superpower for that animal.” “Could it transform into something else? What would it become?” These types of questions are a fun way to develop stories and create one-of-a-kind characters.

Play strengthens the connection our children have with themselves, each other, and us, so intentionally making time for enriching activities nurtures a sense of safety, trust, and enhances a child’s emotional development.

Learn more about play-filled activity ideas at stephaniemcguirt.com.

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