Olympic Supermom's Child's Play

By Erica Ehm

What does a superwoman Olympic medalist become when she has kids? A supermom! Unlike many of us, Silken Laumann has non-stop energy, passing her passion for play down to her kids. She's written Child's Play, designed to inspire parents to raise more active, healthy kids, and reconnect with their little budding athletes in the process. Do you need to be motivated to get out and play? Then read on!

EE: What was play like for you as a kid?

SL: Play was a part of every day. I walked to school with friends. There was always time to turn a skipping rope, or play four square or tether ball before school. After school we didn't make play dates. Everybody just kind of convened on the street and then figured out what to do. We would play games like kick the can, tag, and capture the flag. The first call for dinner always elicited groans of "But I'm not hungry! or "But were in the middle of a game!" After dinner we were out the minute dishes were done and the street lights turning on was the unspoken signal to head home.

EE: Biggest mistakes parents make with play and their kids?

SL: Parents tend to make too many rules, to instruct kids on how to play a game, or throw a ball rather than just letting it unfold. This usually results in both the parent and the child getting frustrated. I try to let my kids lead with their imagination, and follow their game even if it doesn't always make sense to me.

Parents think in terms of sport, let play baseball, lets play hockey kids think more in terms of lets whack the ball, lets run around and have fun.

EE: What do you say to all of us over-protective, hyper-scheduling, time-crunched moms?

SL: Every child has the right to unstructured time, time to use their imagination and just play. This time is so important to kids. It's when they develop their imagination, de-stress from their day, connect with other kids on kids' terms and develop social skills. They're also getting the physical exercise that their bones, heart, and entire body needs.

Many of us feel streteched and stressed, and the idea of playing with our kids, can seem like just one more thing we have to do in our day. I encourage moms to take things off the agenda, to give themselves permission to do more, by doing a little less. One suggestion is to protect at least one night a week for family time. Kick a ball outside with your child, play hopscotch , shoot some hoops or go for a walk. This time with our kids is so precious, for them and for us. I find that it is during our evening walks around the block with our dog Balto, where the kids really tell me what happened in their day. I wouldn't trade these moments for anything.

EE: How do you play with your kids now?

SL: My daughter Kate is six and she loves imaginary games. I encourage her to play them outside with her brother and some neighbourhood kids. I notice when she's outside she's always moving, climbing, getting things out of the garage and pulling the dog on the wagon, just moving. She really likes skipping, and I have had to start learning the skipping songs to help her enjoy it even more. She loves the idea of an adventure so we'll often go on our bikes with a purpose, like exploring the ravine near our home, or buying fruit for dessert.

William is eight and he's outside with the hockey stick and net. He loves it when I play frisbee with him, and loves taking the dog to the park so they can chase each other.

EE: What do kids learn from play?

When kids connect with one another in our community spaces, they're making friends, feeling a sense of belonging and helping create community. Because when our kids meet to play in the park, we as parents often go with them, and that helps us get to know one another, and feel more comfortable letting our kids play together. Kids build a connection with their bodies, they challenge their bodies to run faster, to jump higher, to climb that apparatus or tree. They develop their motor skills, they build their confidence through learning to ride the bicycle alone, through hitting their first baseball. Fresh air and exercise gives kids a break from the seven hours of concentration they had at school. When they get a burst of exercise they feel refreshed and ready to focus again.

Play is where kids learn to socialize with other kids, they learn to play by the rules, share, and work together. Most of all, when kids play they feel joy. This joy is so important to their spirits. It builds optimism and enthusiasm for life which will be tremendously important when that child faces adversity.

EE: What do parents learn from play?

SL: When parents play they reconnect with the joy of being alive. They rediscover the fun in life - being silly and carefree gives you energy and optimism. They begin to understand the value of play and are more apt to protect play time for their kids.

EE: What are your suggestions for indoor play?

Red light/Green light - Choose as open an indoor space as possible, the garage, the basement, the hallways of your building then yell "Green light! and the kids run full speed - "Yellow light!" to slow down, "Red light!" to stop. This can have different variations like reverse light or breakdown light. This is really good when you are tired because the kids love it but you can sit down and simply yell the colours.

Winter scavenger hunt - Write down ten things the kids need to find outdoors. In the winter this could be a dead leaf, acorn, six inch long icicle. It gets the kids outside and is a great way to combine a walk with an adventure.

Open Gym - Work with your local school to keep the gym open one evening a week and available to the entire community to enjoy unstructured play. Floor hockey, dodgemeball and skipping can all be enjoyed inside or out.

EE: Top 3 Activities/Games for the playfully challenged Yummy Mummy?

SL: Fly a kite!

Park a few blocks from your destination and walk the rest of the way!

Turn on the music in the house full blast and have silly dance time!

Four-time Olympian Silken Laumann is one of Canada's most inspirational leaders. As the reigning world champion rower she fought back from a devastating training accident and medical predictions of never being able to row again, to win a bronze medal in the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona.

In ten weeks she made the greatest comeback in Canadian Sports History, becoming a symbol of spirit and hope. Since winning bronze in Barcelona, Silken Laumann has continued to encourage people to dream big, live in the moment, and embrace failure as a stepping stone to future success.

In November 2003, Silken combined her passion for sport and youth by establishing The Silken Laumann Active Kid's Movement - a not-for-profit organization designed to promote the health benefits of physical activity, and to inspire and support parents wishing to increase physical activity levels in our children.