Lockdown is hard on all of us, including our kids who can not meet their friends. We try to ease this letting him talk a lot with family members and friends on the phone or video chat.
Little Bear also played in the last few weeks with one of his friends chess and battleship online, whilst video chatting on another device. They also scribbled on a joint white board with the help of technology. Sometimes just making funny faces and using the special effects of the video chat apps were as entertaining for them as the chess or battleship game itself.
But last week virtual playing stepped up, when his friend suggested to play with playmobil virtually. They switched on the cameras, gathered their playmobil figures and role-played 1,5-2 hours!
Every time they start, they list and introduce the figures they have with them, discuss and decide whether it is winter or summer, day or night, what's happening and play long stories at the two end of the cameras.
When I am listening for a few minutes, I am always amazed how matured they agree on things and move on with their story - a 6 and a soon 8 years old!
They are happy to see the new toys on the other side of the camera, but sometimes they are just happy to find their own newly discovered old toys they have not played with for a while.
I think virtual playdate can not get any closer to a real one than this.
Virtual playdate do not need playmobil figures. You can try this with Lego or plush toys or anything that your kids love to play with and starts their phantasy working!
Beside being pure fun, role-play has several educational, psychological benefits: eg. encourages creativity and imagination, fosters social and emotional development, improves communication and language skills, develops thinking, learning and problem solving, helps dealing with difficult situations.
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