I had the opportunity to review the soon-to-be released book Games and Activities the for Attaching With Your Child
by Deborah D. Gray and Megan Clarke. You probably recognize Gray
as a popular author in the adoption community. She has written several
titles having to do with adoption, trauma, and attachment. She is
joined in this book by several others whose work specializes in
attachment.
This title is a practical handbook! It
begins with helping us to understand the value of attachment and how it
in turn can contribute so much to other brain-based functions like
controlling impulses and the understanding of the overall picture in
life. This is followed up by showing us the value of imagination and
play and how it affects a child's development.
After we
are given the background as to WHY play is important the authors then
treat us to a multitude of games and activities that we can do with our
children to help promote attachment. The ideas are well laid out, first
by ages and then with chapters that show us how to use play as an
attachment tool for connecting the entire family and helping siblings to
build attachment. Each activity specifies any supplies needed and
suggests a time frame. The authors even go beyond and give additional
ideas for children whose background requires them to approach the games
and activities in a different way or through a slower approach. There
is even a chapter on activities to help with mood and flexibility!
Even
though I'm a mom with over three decades of experience, I found
some new ideas and fun things to try with my children recently adopted
from a Chinese orphanage. Some of my personal favorites were a new play
on Row, Row, Row Your Boat, Who Is in This Family, and the (Sibling
Only) Forts.
Whether you have a child newly home or several
children that you are still working with to form a strong family unit, I believe
you will find several ideas in this book to help in your task. Check
it out!
** I received a complementary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. **
