Nearly two-thirds of parents avoid activities like painting or playing in the mud with their children – because they prefer to keep their little ones clean and tidy. A survey of 1,000 parents, with children aged under four, found their kids' favourite playtime activities include colouring, drawing, and playing with sand or mud.
But parents tend to prefer reading books or playing with building blocks – with only a quarter regularly joining their little one in activities such as dressing up or role play. Nearly a third (30 per cent) of parents only take part in creative activities at home once every two weeks – although 37 per cent enjoy regular trips to the park with their youngsters.
A lack of inspiration, as well as cost, were factors most likely to discourage them from initiating creative play – along with knowing their child will do these activities with their nursery or childminder. And over half (51 per cent) admitted to feeling “silly” or “embarrassed” when doing imaginative play such as dress up or role play – with 36 per cent often doing things with their kids that they would rather not.
