My Connections to Play
Quote one
Children do not play for a reward-praise, money, or food. They play because they like it.
~Francis Wardle (2007)
Quote two
Mostly, we need to honor the innate capacity for learning that moves the limbs and fills the souls of every healthy young child.
~Joan Almon (2002)
Pictures of common play items
Who supported my play?
When I was a child, my mother encouraged play. She always made time to play with me and followed my lead no matter what else was going on. Even as a young child she made me feel that, what I was doing was important whether it was pretending to fish or playing in the sand, because she made time for it and participated in it.
Children’s Play
I think that play has changed from when I was a child. Back then, we used many imaginative items. Although we had toys, we did not have to have a specific toy for everything. My favorite play items were found or natural items that I pretended were something else. I do not know if children can do this now.
Play now
As I grew older, I continued to play and still do as often as I can. While the format and schemes of play has changed, it is still important to find ways to escape, refuel, and contemplate new ideas.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Hello Joseph,
ReplyDeleteIt is good to know that you still find time to play. Despite the power of play, somewhere between childhood and adulthood, many people stop playing. Many of us are working longer and harder, thinking that this will solve the problem of an escalating workload. But we are still falling behind, becoming constantly overwhelmed, and burning out. Indeed, taking the time to replenish yourself through play is one of the best things you can do for your career.
Joseph,
ReplyDeleteI agree that play has changed over time. I do believe that children can still find natural items to play with. However, I think they need an adult to help them through the process, just as your mom was with you.
I like your quotes. Children do infact play because it is fun and for no other reason. Lucky for us though they learn a multitude of tasks while doing it. Play has changed over time for sure. When children are away from all the business of the world I believe the natural items are still the best.
ReplyDeleteJoseph,
ReplyDeleteI like the fact that you brought out the point that play can be an escape. I agree, but I think it can become a negative when used too frequently as an escape.I think it can stifle children from dealing with reality, such as a dysfunctional home. Can this be the cause of some behavior problems in school.