#SAVETIMEFORPLAYTIME CAMPAIGN ASKS PARENTS TO PLEDGE MORE TIME TO PLAY
Hasbro’s #SaveTimeforPlaytime video, which showcases several South African youngsters discussing
what they’ll do to convince their parents to spend more time playing with them provided a heart-warming moment of clarity for many people.
While the kids promise to do the washing, make coffee, even trying out ‘puppy dog’ eyes to convince their parents to play with them, what they
don’t know is that their intended audience is listening behind the scenes.
The parents featured in the video all agreed that while they consciously know they are not always available or actively participating even when they are in the same room, what they hadn’t realised is the impact this was having on their kids.
After being part of this social experiment, they offered up a few suggestions to try and create more time during the day – these included not taking work home
with them, spending less time on their cell phone and actively prioritising play time, even just 30 minutes a day, which could make all the difference.
Because the idea resonated so deeply with the local audience, Hasbro decided to take the campaign one step further.
To encourage South Africans to make more time to play, Hasbro introduced the #SaveTimeforPlaytime pledge, complete with a pinkie promise, which asks kids and parents to suggest ways to make playtime a priority – and then commit to making this happen.
The evidence of the benefits of play is overwhelming. The latest World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines prescribes active play for kids under 5 to increase their mental and physical wellbeing as they get older.
The United Nations High Commission for Human Rights recognises play as an essential right of every child and the Flux Trends’ 2019 Report – describes how doctors are prescribing playtime for stressed, depressed children and their equally anxious, always-connected
parents.
Engaging in shared play time plays a significant role in parent-child bonding and provides
invaluable opportunities for parents to role model positive values and behaviour to their children.
According to Hasbro South Africa marketing manager and working mom, Cara Birkett, “The video highlights how important it is to make the moments you spend together count. By actively engaging
in playtime with our kids we are also encouraging them to spend more time at play. The Hasbro
#SaveTimeForPlaytime video shows us that it’s not necessarily the grand gestures that make the
difference but rather the small uninterrupted everyday moments that make memories.”
To make your pledge and share your ideas on how you can #SaveTimeForPlaytime or get some tips from other time-starved parents visit Monopoly South Africa on Facebook and click on the Save Time
for Playtime Pledge Page.
To get you started Hasbro has a few tips on how to save some time and incorporate more play in a day:
- Make the morning rush fun: The usual chaotic panic of getting ready for school can put everyone in a spin. Make the morning rush fun and ‘gamify’ getting ready with points for helping with breakfast, getting dressed the fastest, etc. The kids can redeem the points for
playtime later in the day once homework is done. - Skip the shops: Grocery shopping takes time so why not skip the store and buy online once your little one’s in bed. You’ll not only save on time but fewer in-store impulse purchases will also be kinder on your pocket.
- Ditch the extra episode: Watching one less episode of your favourite series means an extra 30 to 60 minutes to play! Have a family board games night, competing over the classics, like Monopoly or Jenga or get extra active with Twister.
- Cook up a storm: Turn Sunday nights into family meal prep time. Encourage everyone to lend a hand to prep meals and lunchboxes for the week ahead. A big pot of stew or soup can be stretched across several meals, make two lasagnes at the same time and freeze one – this will go a long way in saving you time during the week.
- Picnic time – turn one meal a week into a picnic night. Set out a picnic blanket in the living room and serve dinner picnic style. It’s a great opportunity to break the monotony and combine mealtime and playtime as the setting allows you to play a few games during dinner
as entertainment. - Bath-time bribery: Another potentially tricky time for the family! Encourage older kids,
especially, to stop arguing over bath time by striking a bath-bargain. If the child gets
squeaky-clean super-speedily, there’s more time for a game of his or her choice!
“Parents work extremely hard and it’s completely understandable that sometimes the energy and time just isn’t there to make playtime possible. However, we’re hoping that the
#SaveTimeforPlaytime pledge will help bring to the fore how big a difference just a little bit more play each day can make and hopefully starting this conversation will encourage people to share their ideas on how they can save on time during the day,” says Cara.
The stats are sad. I’m guilty of being ‘too busy’. This post has given me a wake up call. Thank you.