Parenting should be child's play

Playing is how toddlers learn, Janet Carrol says. She facilitates the Mommy and Me program at the New Port Richey library teaching mothers how to play.

By MICHELE MILLER

© St. Petersburg Times, published April 19, 2000

NEW PORT RICHEY -- At age 16, Dixie DeMorrow already has learned that play is the work of the children.

While her 15-month-old daughter Cheyenne has become quite the pro at throwing what her mother calls a "hissy fit," Dixie knows that if you hand her a paper plate, some glue and a small mound of torn pieces of colorful construction paper she'll settle down and go to it.

"She loves this kind of stuff," Dixie said as her daughter gleefully went about the process of gluing. "She loves puzzles, she loves to color, loves to finger paint -- she plays a lot."

And with play comes learning, says Janet Carrol, a retired school teacher and social worker who facilitates an ongoing Mommy and Me program at the New Port Richey City Public Library.

Last week, Dixie and Cheyenne were two of the students in the Cyesis Program at Marchman Technical Education Center to be treated to some special one-on-one time when Carrol brought her program to the school.

The paper plate and glue activity was just one of the hints Carrol offered to the young mothers in attendance.

"A lot of people don't think it's important for moms to play with their children," Carrol said. "In this day of high technology the instinct is either to put them in front of the computer or the TV. But play is important -- it's part of their development; it's how they learn."

When it comes to toddlers, everything for them is really hands-on, said Carrol, who favors pop-up books, felt boards and paper-plate activities.

"It helps them learn fine motor skills and gives the mother and child a chance to focus on the same activity at the same time," Carrol said.

Reading to children on a daily basis and repeating nursery rhymes is a good way to capture a busy child's attention and help them develop listening skills, Carrol said.

"A child that knows how to listen will learn better," she said, adding that putting a few toys and puzzles away to be brought out for special one-on-one time will go a long way toward developing learning skills as well as the bonding experience.

"These are the most important years of your child's life," Carrol said. "Play with your kids, it's very important."

If you go

The Mommy and Me program is held at 10 a.m. each Friday at the New Port Richey Public Library. For information, call Bunnie McCormack at (727) 841-4547 extension 278.

© St. Petersburg Times. All rights reserved.