5 Ways to Encourage Play for Boys

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This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Gymboree. Tracking Pixel

I have been a boy mom for sixteen years! Crazy right? We have a houseful of sweet, wild, crazy, fun, adorable boys!

One thing I can tell you with certainty is… play is very important for boys. They learn this way. It encourages creativity and ingenuity.

Part of our homeschool day is about my kids just playing- this gives them time to make sense of the world around them. I believe it builds confidence, character and encourages growth in so many ways.

The importance of play for Boys

While we homeschool now, when our two older boys were in public school, one of the first things we did when they came home from school each day was play.

Boys have energy. Boys need to roam and explore.

We go to the park, we play in our backyard, we play indoors.

We ride bikes and scooters, we build with toys, we play independently and together.

Here are five ways that you can encourage play with your children.

gymboree

5 Ways to Encourage Play

1. Create a playlist of fun music and incorporate it into your play. You can do this with a boom box if you’re playing outdoors, like at the park.

2. Get everyone involved. Include games that bring friends and family together. Check out this fun play date guide over on Pinterest. (We love playing parachute games! Totally reminds me of being a kid too!)

gymboree 4

3. Get moving! Boys need movement. Boys have energy. Let them roam and explore! Make it fun.

nick gymboree

4. Go old school! Don’t under estimate the learning and fun that takes place with simple vintage games like we played as a kid. Remember how fun blowing bubbles was when we were kids? What about playing paddle ball, making airplanes and playing with a kazoo! Having a hard homeschool day or kids bouncing off the walls once you pick them up from school? Have some old school game fun and get active!

gymboree bubbles

5. Seek comfort. Your kids being comfortable while playing will encourage play to go further. This is what I love about the Hop ‘n’ Roll line from Gymboree. Total comfort for my boys while we roam outdoors and get active. I love their everyday favorites and so do our boys. They could play for hours and hours! (And no one complaining about clothes being uncomfortable… I have some picky kiddos!)

gymboree fun

 

Since 1976 Gymboree has known what mom’s know… they have watched kids learn and grow through the power of play. Rather you’re having a play date or a picnic, Gymboree wants you to have the cutest (and most comfortable) kids in the sandbox.

I love the KaBOOM! program Gymboree is a part of.  They are working to provide childhood of play for kids all over. Proceeds from the Hop ‘n’ Roll line are being used to build a place for play for 10,000 kids in 2015!

gymboree gift card

Gymboree is also offering one Crystal & Co., reader a $100 Gymboree giftcard! Jump over and check out the Hop ‘n’ Roll Collection, (and come back and leave a comment here letting me know the one item you love most from the line.) The Hop ‘n’ Roll line is for boys and girls from size 6 months to size 10 (youth). This giveaway will be open for one week (April 8, 2015 until April 15, 2015, at 11:59 pm) and one winner will be chosen randomly.

 

Here is what my boys are wearing in the pictures above.

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Gymboree.

Blended family. Wife to Lenny. Homeschool mom. Large family- eight boys and one girl... ONLY five still at home. Texas born and raised.

99 Comments

  1. Somewhat you are right.. But, first of all I have to hide PlayStation and Xbox in order to get them outside. 🙂 All the time except studying and sleeping hours, my kids stick with playstation..
    Anyhow thanks for shared this post.

    1. Thyrone, hiding the video games is a great idea. Maybe they can be rainy weather toys so that your boys can get outdoors when the sun shines? I find that all children, especially boys, do better with their seat work if they’ve had some time to “get the wiggles out” and go outside to play! And we all can use some more Vitamin D (sunshine being the #1 source)

  2. Rebecca Xavier says:

    I love the daisy collar dress.

  3. I love the Heathered Terry Hoodie, with the whale tee. My son would love that outfit!

  4. Dawn Monroe says:

    I like the girls navy terry shorts and the neon painted dot dress. Im ready for summer!

  5. Allison S. says:

    I couldn’t pick just one. I love the idea of mix and match pieces.

  6. lissa crane says:

    I love the “I’m a Cool Cat” Flutter Tee & Kitties Flutter Tee for my little girls! Love this collection for the Spring!

  7. Jillian Jordan says:

    I like the Tiger Tee. 🙂

  8. Patricia M says:

    I like the geo print romper.

  9. mechele johnson says:

    I am in love with the Painted Dot Dress and the Hot Air Balloon Tank for girls. Adorable!!!!!!!

  10. Leigh Anne Borders says:

    I love the Neon Painted Dot dress. Very cute for summer/spring! I love the styles that Gymboree offers. They have great prices too to make a mommy happy!

  11. Kathy Davis says:

    My favorite is the Floral Shift Dress.

  12. I love the girls geo print romper!

  13. I like the boys Raglan tee

  14. Judith Bayer says:

    I love the Panda Two-Piece Gymmies

  15. Michelle S says:

    I love the Painted Dot Dress.

  16. allyson tice says:

    i am absolutely gaga over the Striped Shift Dress!!!

  17. From this collection, I like these items: Neon Painted Dot Dress and Neon Chevron Dress.

  18. Lisa Graham says:

    I loved all of the girls clothing. The Geo Print Romper was one of my favorites.

  19. Love the hoodie!!!

  20. I love the Robot Tee size 18-24mos for my little man The Daisy Collar dress for my daughter and the Raglan Tee for my oldest son! Thank you!

  21. I love the Bow Back Pocket Dress

  22. I Love the
    Neon Painted Dot Dress

  23. kim fenner says:

    Love the geo print romper for my grandbaby.

  24. This is a great collection! I like the flutter tees and the intergalactic pizza delivery tee!

  25. jenn giannetto says:

    I really love the little boys robot tee!

  26. The Neon Chevron Dress and the Bow Pocket Tee are adorable!

  27. Love the teal striped dress for my 3 year old girl!

  28. I like the baby girl geo print romper!

  29. I like the It’s My Birthday Tee. I have a big dinosaur lover at my house.

  30. I really like the Geo Print Romper and the Neon Chevron Dress. They would be perfect additions to my daughters summer wardrobe.

  31. the hot air balloon tank would be perfect for my niece!!!

  32. I love the Sunshine Striped Peplum Tee – so cute and summery!

  33. I like so many pieces in this collection, but the Geo Print Smock Top in Light Playful Pink really caught my eye.

  34. Michelle Young says:

    I really like the Intergalactic Pizza Delivery Tee. My son loves pizza night and this shirt is ot of this world!

  35. amy craft says:

    I love the striped dress. Looks so comfortable and perfect for our hot summers.

  36. I like the Intergalactic Pizza Delivery Tee!

  37. Darlene Owen says:

    I love the Gingham Organza Dress

  38. Marilyn Nawara says:

    I really like the Flutter Sleeve Striped Dress — perfect for summer fun.

  39. I love the robot tee for my boys!

  40. Great article! I really need to get my boys out and moving! Also love Gymboree for girls I like the neon chevron dress. For the boys, I love the pull on khaki shorts and the active shorts too!

  41. I am smitten with the Fleece-Lined Team Sweatshirt. Its so cute!!

  42. The motorcycle striped shirt is great — my son would love it!

  43. I love the Neon Dot One-Shoulder Ruffle Top for my daughter and the Marled Trim Pullover for my son.

  44. Carrie Conrad says:

    I love the Painted Dot Dress! My daughter would look adorable in it!

  45. The Flutter Sleeve Striped Dress is adorable!

  46. Sarah Cool says:

    I love the T. Tex High Five Tee and the slate grey Pull-On Shorts, what a cute outfit.

  47. brittani adams says:

    The things I love and think my son would like are…… the Hero tee, the pull on track pants, and the high five dino tee! Love the collection!

  48. Sarah Cool says:

    I like the T. Tex High Five Tee and the slate grey Pull-On Shorts, what an adorable outfit!!!

  49. My son would like the Intergalactic Pizza Delivery T, and for my daughter, a pair of the heart bike shorts.

  50. Jessica Cox says:

    I am love with all the chevron prints,Neon Chevron Dress is super cute

  51. I really love the Marled Trim Pullover. My son would look stylish in that!

  52. heather sullivan says:

    i love the geo print smock top

  53. Intergalactic Pizza Delivery Tee.

  54. ashley alderink says:

    I would have a hard time choosing but for sure would choose the neon chevron dress

  55. angie gibbie says:

    the dresses are adorable. the flutter sleeve I would have to chose

  56. I like the girls flutter sleeve smock top

  57. Audra watts says:

    I love the neon painted for dress and the cute cool cat tee shirt

  58. Deb Jensen says:

    Love the whale tee

  59. christine j says:

    I love the kitties flutter tee!

  60. jamie tucker says:

    I love the tiger t! my boys would love that they are big cat lovers

  61. Great ideas! We are very lucky so far…he always wants to be outside playing and exploring! I really love the Blast Off Football Tee with the matching Pull-On Active Short! Love that they have the matching Track Hoodie too!!!! What a cute set for spring!

  62. Brandy Fisk says:

    The painted dot dresses are so cute for summer!

  63. Thomas Murphy says:

    I like the Tiger Tee

  64. I love love LOVE the tiger tee shirt – so cute!!

  65. I went to their site and I love the hop n roll kitties flutter tee.

  66. michelle r says:

    what an amazing giveaway! the plaid cargo shorts are on my wishlist!

  67. Grace Mitchell says:

    I love the Geo Print Smock Top…and most of all the rest of it!!

  68. Christine Harding says:

    I love the Tiger Tee!

  69. Love the Striped Flutter Sleeve Dress!

  70. I loved the I’m a cool cat flutter tee.
    And the daisy colar dress.
    And the neon chevron leggings.
    Okay so I loved it all! 😉

  71. Neon Painted Dot Dress

  72. I love the Ice Cream Dress – so cute!!

  73. Michelle J. says:

    I like the Marled Trim Pullover!

  74. I like the boys Blast Off Soccer Tee.

  75. Cheryl B. says:

    I just love this shirt for my Grand-daughter. Beach Bird Tee

  76. Heidi Daily says:

    My son would love the Construction Truck Tee.

  77. Flutter sleeve striped dress

  78. I like the Flutter sleeve striped dress in neon pink.

  79. Connie Tillman says:

    My boys who are almost 4 and almost 2 are OBSESSED with monster trucks. I love the monster truck shirt.

  80. I really love the Bow Back Pocket Dress in Gym Navy, thanks!

  81. Amy Tebow says:

    I think my son would like the tiger graphic tshirt in that line!!

  82. Stephanie Phelps says:

    I would love to get the Neon Painted Dot Dress. Everything is so cute!

  83. kelly mcgrew says:

    i love the ric rac trim leggings!

    i just wish they had more gender neutral clothes!

  84. Jillian Too says:

    I like the Gymbo Orange Striped Tee. Our little guy would have fun rocking that orange color this Spring and Summer.

  85. I love the Flutter Sleeve Striped Dress.

  86. Jessica Beard says:

    I like the Monster Truck tee for my son.

  87. Dianna Thomas Davis says:

    I love the little Flowers Romper in sherbet for my Catherine perfect for play

  88. Kathy Dalton says:

    I LOVE THE REVERSIBLE HOODIE FOR NEWBORNS

  89. Jessica Whitehouse says:

    I like the gray Tiger Tee for my 8 yr old boy.

  90. Stephanie Linza says:

    My daughter would look lovely in the Chevron dress!

  91. I lvoe the Neon Chevron dress so much I just went and bought it so cute its on sale tonight and I used my coupon to get a little extra off to yeah.. Love this collection ..

  92. Jenny Stanek says:

    I love the hot air balloon flutter tee for girls!

  93. I love the Neon Chevron Dress!

  94. Rene Chartier says:

    I love the Neon Painted Dot dress. so precious all of the designs. My little ones would feel very special.

  95. I love the Blossom Dot two piece set for a baby girl, my granddaughter. They have such cute clothes. Thank you for the chance 🙂

  96. Ashley Alderink says:

    I like the painted ddot dress

  97. Tabathia B says:

    I like the neon painted dot dress

    tbarrettno1 at gmail dot com

  98. The giveaway winner is:

    Nancy says
    April 9, 2015 at 9:27 pm

    From this collection, I like these items: Neon Painted Dot Dress and Neon Chevron Dress.

Comments are closed.