- ARCHANA NAIR Scribble Mama

A mindful parenting perspective on play, presence, and everyday learning

Do children really need expensive toys to thrive?

The short answer: No.

What they truly need is us—our physical and emotional presence, our love, our time. That’s all.

Yet, as parents, we often struggle to keep our kids meaningfully engaged—especially when we cut down on screen time. We scroll endlessly for activity ideas, hoping to find something easy and educational, only to end up more overwhelmed.

But what if the answer isn’t “something new,” but something already right in front of us?

What do children really want?

They want to be involved in whatever we’re doing.

Yes, they want to help. They want to sweep like us, stir like us, talk like us. They want to be included in our everyday routines. They’re like adorable little “copycats”—and that’s not something to stop; it’s something to embrace.

Real-Life Example: My Two-Year-Old Helper

My toddler picks up a broom twice his size, bends his back, and mimics sweeping the floor.
He grabs a dusting cloth from me and says, “I’ll do it. You do something else.”

So I hand him the cloth and move to chopping vegetables. Moments later, he’s sitting beside me, carefully placing chopped veggies into a bowl. He fills another bowl with water and starts washing the vegetables—all with the focus and joy of real work.

Suddenly, we’re not “doing chores.” We’re spending time, learning, laughing, and building trust. Hours pass in a blur.

 Am I taking away his playtime?

No. I’m allowing him to do what he enjoys—safely and freely.
I’m introducing him to the world in his own language: through play, participation, and presence.

And in the process, he’s learning:

These everyday actions are powerful developmental tools—disguised as play.

Learning Through Everyday Scenarios

Scenario 1: Washing Vegetables

Reacting:
“Nooo! Don’t come here, you’ll get wet. Go play with your toys.”

What the child learns: Rejection, confusion, and missed bonding time.

Responding:
“Hey, come help me wash the vegetables. Look at what I bought!”

What happens instead:
He gets excited, names the veggies, feels their textures, counts them, and learns colors. He explores. He learns. We connect.

It took 45 minutes instead of 15, yes—but every minute was filled with joy, learning, and love.

Scenario 2: Hanging Clothes

Reacting:
“Oh no, you’ll dirty the clean clothes. Let someone else keep you busy.”

What the child learns: Exclusion, inconvenience.

Responding:
“You want to help? Awesome! Hand me one piece at a time.”

Now he’s focused, careful, and proud. He hands clothes thoughtfully and uses his little fingers to clip them, building motor control, patience, and responsibility.

How about working moms?  

They are also trying their best for their children. Even just an hour of undivided attention or playtime with their children is enough to build a strong and healthy bond. It is not at all easy to balance work and a child’s needs simultaneously, but we can try these ways to connect with our children:

- Read books or tell stories at bedtime.  

- Share how we spent our day and how much we missed them.  

- Goodbyes are really important—make sure to connect with them before leaving for work. They may cry at first, but gradually they will understand and respect you and your work.  

- They will look forward to the end of the day so they can spend quality time with you.  

- Have at least one meal together.

Scenario 1 – Leaving for the office:

"I am getting late, please be a good baby. Don’t cry. Here’s your favorite food. Bye, see you later."

This is only one-way communication. The child may want to say something, but we are in a hurry.

Scenario 2 – It’s time for Mumma to leave for work:

"I am going to miss you so much." Sitting down and making eye contact, staying calm, and connecting with my child. "I know it’s hard for you; it’s really hard for me as well. But work is also important." Smiling, hugging, and kissing. "We will play this game or tell stories when I come back." Making sure our child is okay.

Why Do They Copy Us?

Because we are their first environment.
They learn by observing our words, actions, tone, and responses.

We don’t realize how closely they watch until we hear them speak like us—or act out a moment we didn’t know they’d noticed.

Raising children is like holding up a mirror to ourselves.

The Problem with Too Many “NOs”

Children don’t process a hard “NO” like adults do.
Too many "no's" can lead to:

Before saying no, ask yourself:

If your “no” is driven by your discomfort, pause. Your child might just be trying to learn—in their own way.

Say “no” only when it’s truly necessary, and always explain why. Over time, they will understand and respect it.

Parenting Is Like Pottery

Raising a child is like shaping wet clay.
It takes presence, patience, and love.
Once the clay hardens, it becomes difficult—if not impossible—to reshape without breaking.

Give them attention when they need it. Involve them. Let them explore and grow—through the mess, the fun, and the wonder of everyday life.

In doing so, we don’t just teach them to help—we raise children who are:

And above all, deeply bonded to us in love and trust.

Final Thought

Children don’t need flashy toys or curated Pinterest activities to thrive.
They just need you—your time, your voice, your warmth, your trust.

So next time your little one grabs the broom or dips their hands in a bowl of veggies, don’t stop them.

Invite them in.

You’re not just getting chores done—you’re raising a remarkable human.