“Psychologically, rough play encourages healthy emotional expression,”

– Kally Hartman, LMFT.

Physical touch is one of the most important things in the development of your child’s life. Not only does it help them feel secure and loved, contact promotes the release of oxytocin (the love hormone) and endorphins (happy hormones) that will make your little one feel safe and seen whenever they are with you.

Although hugging, kissing, and caressing are commonly known, roughhousing is a type of physical contact on the rougher side of things that has been proven to be healthy in the development of your little one’s life socially, mentally, and emotionally.

Apart from building a strong bond and a foundation of security through horseplay, roughhousing has numerous benefits. According to Susan Newman, P.hD, on Psychology Today, roughhousing has the following benefits:

1. Roughhousing helps your child unlock their problem-solving skills

2. It helps your child understand fair play, which will give them a leg up with social skills such as developing emotional intelligence.

3. The activities mould your child’s self-confidence.

4. Roughhousing strengthens the bond you have with your child as you become attuned with them through partaking in playful rough games.

5. Roughhousing promotes a joyful and harmonious atmosphere between you and the child.

Roughhousing Should Always Be Fun

Not every child will be energised by the same levels of rough play. While some kids are happy with rolling down the hill, giggling without a care in the world, others love the riskier thrills of playful wrestling-inspired locks.

To ensure that you and the kids have just the right amount of fun, Hartman noted in a medically reviewed article on Parents that two-way communication is vital. “Encourage your children to talk about what they like (and don’t like) in order to ensure that everyone is comfortable and having fun,” she said, stressing the importance of consent and checking in.

Games You and Your Little Ones Can Play:

The Push Down Game

If you are playing this game with a toddler, you will need to squat to get down to their level and then challenge them to push you over, daring them to see if they can. Being in that position makes it easier for your child to tip you over. Don’t forget to make a meal out of it! Your little one will get a kick out of seeing you beaten by them.

Airplane

This one might be a favourite among boy kids but girls also love flying high on their fairy wings. Playing this game depends on your strength as a parent, whether you are comfortable lifting your child up while sitting down or while on your feet. This game will help stimulate the release of endorphins in your child and promote positive vibes between you and the child.

The Wriggle Game

With this game, you wrap your arms around your toddler (but not too tightly, though), and you say something to them along the lines of: “I bet you can’t escape from me.” Throughout the game, your toddler will then try to break free, and you should make the game easy enough for them to win. This game will build your child’s self-confidence.

Sources:

https://www.psychologytoday.com/za/blog/singletons/202304/benefits-of-roughhousing-with-your-children

https://www.parents.com/rough-play-is-good-for-your-kids-heres-why-6890797#:~:text=Rough%20play%20is%20good%20for%20kids%20physically%20and%20allows%20them,boosts%20our%20endorphins%20and%20mood.

https://www.wvdhhr.org/birth23/raunewsletters/RAU7_Summer2018_PPNewsletter.pdf

https://momgineer.blogspot.com/2011/03/art-of-roughhousing.html#:~:text=For%20a%20toddler%2C%20squat%20down,want%20to%20do%20it%20again.