Play
 Some people talk about play as if it were a relief from serious learning; but, for children, play is serious business.
It provides a way for them to express strong feelings about important events in their lives. Play gives children a chance to work out problems on their own, to cope with anxieties, and to prepare for life as an adult by pretending about being grown up.
Through play, children discover the world and learn more about themselves. -- Fred Rogers
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Safe Play
from "Arthur"
 Materials
marker
paper (large sheet)
puppets or stuffed animals
Directions
Help your children learn to distinguish between safe play and aggressive, unsafe play.
Discuss
Talk to your children about being safe and respecting others when playing. Ask: What are some ways to play more safely with others? Together, brainstorm a list of helpful guidelines, and post it on a large sheet of paper. For example:
DO ask if someone else wants to play.
DO take turns.
DON'T hit, push, kick, or bite.
DON'T wreck another child's work.
Role-play
Help younger children explore the issue by role-playing safe behavior in various situations. Older children can use stuffed animals or puppets to act out safe play scenarios with each other. Suggest positive ways your children can correct unsafe play (for example, helping another child rebuild a structure that was knocked down, and apologizing).
Take It Further
Keep your brainstorm a list-on-hand for future use. When situations arise, remind your children of the guidelines they helped establish.
Based on an activity in Play and Learn with Arthur, Volume 2
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