Why It’s Important to Find Time to Play with Your Children, Even When You’re Tired

After a long day of work, chores, and daily responsibilities, hearing your child ask, “Daddy, play with me” can sometimes feel overwhelming. Yet, despite the fatigue many parents feel, finding time to play with your children plays a crucial role in their emotional, cognitive, and social development. It’s not about the quantity of time spent playing, but rather the quality of attention and emotional presence that parents offer.

The Power of Symbolic Play

Symbolic play, where children use their imagination to create scenarios, is one of the most important forms of play for a child’s development. According to psychologist and behavior analyst Lucía Sánchez Casas, symbolic play allows children to imitate real-life situations, take on roles, and explore emotions. This type of play typically begins around the age of two or three and evolves in complexity as children grow older.

For example, a child might pretend a cardboard box is a car or use a banana as a telephone. As they mature, their play involves more elaborate stories, sequences of actions, and greater emotional understanding, such as nurturing or empathy. These early experiences are critical in helping children build social skills, problem-solving abilities, and emotional intelligence.

Overcoming Parental Fatigue

It’s completely normal for parents to feel too tired or even bored to engage in pretend play after a long day. Many parents, like Iván Loriente, father of a six-year-old, admit that while they enjoy sitting down to play occasionally, the constant role-playing can be exhausting. He emphasizes the importance of having a work schedule that allows for a healthy balance between professional and family life.

Silvia Garza, mother of two, echoes this sentiment, explaining that organization and willingness play a huge part in being able to carve out quality playtime with her children, especially during the weekends when work obligations are fewer.

The Importance of Being Present

According to pedagogue Irene Dorado, being physically present is not the only requirement; what matters most is that children feel seen, heard, and valued. Even if parents don’t actively engage in every moment of play, simply observing, asking questions, or providing materials shows children that their parents are interested and emotionally available.

Lucía Sánchez also stresses that parents should actively participate when possible. An engaged attitude helps reinforce the child’s self-esteem, foster emotional regulation, and strengthen the parent-child bond. The goal isn’t to play endlessly but to build consistent emotional connections.

Quality Over Quantity

As Sánchez points out, “Ten minutes of fully present play is worth more than an hour spent half-distracted with a phone in hand.” Simple routines like reading a story together or sharing a moment of eye contact and conversation can have a significant positive impact. It’s about creating meaningful interactions rather than worrying about long play sessions.

The adult presence in a child’s play and development should be steady but not overwhelming. As children grow, their need for constant supervision diminishes, but the need for emotional availability remains.

Balancing Guilt and Realistic Expectations

Many parents struggle with guilt when they can’t always be available to play with their children. Xenia Zarzuela, a mother of two, shares how she sometimes feels guilty for not spending as much time playing due to work obligations. However, she recognizes that having a flexible work schedule allows her to be present when it matters most. She also highlights the importance of shared responsibilities between both parents, noting that often mothers carry a disproportionate mental and physical load.

Sánchez reassures parents that it’s okay to feel tired or unmotivated and that these feelings do not indicate failure in parenting. She encourages parents to prioritize self-care and redefine what it means to be a good caregiver. Emotional availability, even in small doses, is more impactful than constant presence.

Setting Boundaries Is Also Important

As children grow older, teaching them about boundaries becomes essential. Dorado explains that while very young children (such as infants) primarily need constant bonding and attention, older children can begin to learn that parents aren’t always available at every moment. Learning to accept “no” or waiting for appropriate times to play helps children develop patience and respect for others’ needs.

Conclusion

In the end, successful parenting isn’t about the number of hours spent playing but the strength and quality of the emotional relationship built over time. Even brief, meaningful moments of connection can deeply enrich a child’s development and foster a secure, loving bond. Balancing playtime, self-care, and realistic expectations allows parents to nurture their children while maintaining their own well-being.