For many single parents, life is a balancing act between work and parenting. Melanie Watson knows this firsthand. After coming home from the office, this single mother takes care of her son. At night, she works as a freelance writer and researcher. "Normally, I do this after my son is in bed," Watson says, but moonlighting can be difficult. "Some assignments mean I am also working weekends and during hours when he is awake. My son knows that if I can work, we can go on vacation," she says. "But it is hard."

Over the past few years, the concept of quality family time has received a lot of attention. Although this is essential to a successful family, few parents realize that playtime is as important to the well-being of their children. In an age where more people work from home, however, balancing work and play is a real challenge, particularly for single parents. When faced with pressing work, all too often adults must put off playtime until later.

"Playtime is extremely important to a child's social and emotional development," says Dr. Alice S. Honig, professor emeritus of child development at Syracuse University, N.Y. "When parents play, children learn the importance of following rules, taking turns and paying attention to what the other person is saying and doing. Kids whose parents play with them feel secure knowing how important they are to their family."

A licensed psychologist, a fellow of the Society for Research in Child Development and author of numerous books including, Playtime Learning Games for Young Children (Syracuse University Press, 1982), Honig stresses that parents need to play. "When parents sit in front of a computer for hours, they're telling their child that their work is more important than they are. That can be very harmful."

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