The second philosophy we utilise is that play is spontaneous and flexible. What we introduce as one activity may turn into three or more unique alternative activities. Instead of confining our child to only playing a certain way, we adapt and go with the flow, allowing her to take the lead and show us what she is wanting to master next. This can be trickier than expected, because as parents, it can feel very tempting and almost automatic to want to step in and show our child how to do something. But I urge you to practice pausing and see where your child goes with the activity first. Doing so will give you more clues as to what they're interested in naturally, which can make playtime a lot more enjoyable for everyone participating — not to mention it's way less work for you.
Engageing them in this way also activates their brain more, challenges them, and pushes them to push themselves. As they explore, play, and create, they will inevitably wear themselves out both physically and mentally. In other words, this will most likely lead to a good nap, solid quiet time, or a more peaceful snooze later on.