My Connections To Play

My Connections to Play…

 

These are two of my favorite quotes that represent my childhood play.

“When children pretend, they’re using their imaginations to move beyond the bounds of reality. A stick can be a magic wand. A sock can be a puppet. A small child can be a superhero.”

Fred Rogers
American children’s television host
1928–2003

“It is in playing, and only in playing, that the individual child or adult is able to be creative and to use the whole personality, and it is only in being creative that the individual discovers the self.” ~ D.W. Winnicott (British pediatrician)

 

Essential Play Items…

1. Activity Walker

 

 

 

2. Wooden Blocks

 

 

 

 

 

3. Bicycle

 

 

 

 

 

Role of play in my childhood and those who supported it…

            Play was a significant part of my childhood. I have three other siblings, two sisters and one brother. We are all one year apart from another which allowed our play to be very interesting at times. My favorite childhood game was “hide and seek”. In my teen years the childhood game of hide and seek turned into a game called “man hunt” that involved not only your siblings but friends from around every corner of our neighborhood.

Since my mother had four children, play time, was her relief and quite time. So, we played from the time we woke up until it was time to settle in for dinner, a bath, and then bed, unless we had school. My father was never against play as long as we did our chores first. Both of my parents loved to see my siblings and me happy so we were fortunate enough to have a variety of play toys and friends to play with.

 

The difference of play today versus the play of my yesterday…

            When I was younger, play insisted of toys, friends, and a lot of outside time. Not today! Today’s play is completely different. In today’s society it is very difficult for children to even play in front of their house without something bad happening. The children of this generation barely even go outside. Not, only because of the upscale of violence but because of the difference in technology. These children are more technologically inclined than ever before. The new games and game systems restrict them from outdoor activities because of the intensity of focus and concentration they involve.

My thoughts on play…

            Play is one of the most significant factors of childhood. It allows a child to be themselves and use their imagination above and beyond their wildest dreams. Play is where dreams and goals are started. When children play they imagine being a mommy, a teacher, a doctor, a ballerina, a mail carriers, etc. Whatever a child dreams of they can be which will help form future career goals and aspirations.

            Adults should help foster children’s play by encouraging and providing time for children to be themselves. Engaging in play with children can help adults see into a child’s world through a child’s view. Children love when they can pretend and play without any adults telling them what to do and when to do it. Adults should feel the same, when children play they should see it as a means of learning and exploration.