My Connection to Play
When children pretend they’re using their
imaginations to move beyond the bounds of reality A stick can be a magic ward.
A sock can be a puppet. A small child can be a superhero.
Fred Rogers
American
children’s television host
It is in playing and only in playing that
the individual children or adults are able to be creative and to use the whole
personality, and it is only in being creative that the individual discovers them
self.
D.W. Winnicott
British
Pediatrician
Hula Hoop
Jumping Rope
Hopsctoch
Marbles
Ring around the Rosie
Playing is what we did when I was
growing –up. We played outside, we played hard and we played a lot. In the afternoons when you got home from
school you change into your play clothes and outside you went to play with the
other children in the neighborhood before it got dark. We play tag, marbles, Mother May I, soft ball,
dodge ball, and many other outside games. During the summer we played outside
most of the day. It did not matter if it rain, we played in the rain. On a summer evening it was nothing to look out
in the back yard to see at least 15 children playing softball. We use to run
across the fields laughing just to be doing something. We played hiding-seek.
Oh what such wonderful and care free days they were.
My mother, father, sister, and
school supported play when I was young. My parents bought the toy and took me
to visit cousins where I would play, talk and laugh. My baby sister and I would
play together all the time. We shared toys. We rode our bikes to the store. We
climbed trees caught tadpoles in the ditch and so much more everyday was an
adventure. At my school we went outside to play every day after lunch where we
played softball.
Play today is different from play
during the time I grew up. Yes we played board games but play was more physical
and provide many opportunities for children to interact with other
children. Physical play helped us to
develop in many areas of development that were vital to our overall
development. However at the time I thought we were just having fun. There are
benefits from such physical play such as being healthy, self-esteem, and
socialization.
These day I play with my
grandchildren assisting them in playing outside and learning some of the games
I played when I were growing up. Encouraging them to play outside which can be
fun and healthy for them. I cannot beat them racing but I have fun trying. Play can benefit the young as well as older
adults.
I agree with you physical play has a major impact on our children however, in today's society children are doing less physical play and more sitting in front of the television playing video games. Just like you I enjoyed my play as a child it was so much different. I like the fact we used more of our imagination to create play and we still enjoyed ourselves. Great Post!!.
ReplyDeleteBarbara,
ReplyDeletePhysical play is such a great experience for not only children, but adults also. It is such an upset that schools are taking this out of their programs because it allows for so much growth in many developmental areas. Like you stated, I also remember when I was little, playing outside everyday. After I got my homework done, I was able to play, which is normal for most children back then. Now of days, physical play is not acknowledged as much as technology is. I believe technology should be used but only for a specific amount of time, but not as much as i see children using it today. Some parents resort to giving their children a device just because it gives them something to do and its easily accessible. Personally, I would give a child puzzles, books, blocks, etc. before I would hand them an iPad or phone. Thank you for sharing, great post!
Hello Barbara,
ReplyDeleteWhat I enjoy most about play is that children can be who they are in the world. Whenever a child is playing with their favorite doll or engage in a game of rock, paper, scissors; they are able to learn about their environment and how to adapt away from home. Case in point, in our classroom, students begins their day in interest centers. The use of interest centers gives a child a jump start on upcoming activities that are planned for the day. Every so often, if a child arrives to class with a sense of feeling down or scared for any reason. Without hesitation, they become happy on arrival in writing center, home living, blocks and so forth.
Tanya Terrell
I think one of the very important things that you said is that children use to play outside. In this day and age children are playing but it's video games and computers. This does not require the kids imagination to be working as much. When we use to play outside your imagination had to work since you were creating games on your own.
ReplyDelete