My Connections with Play

Quotes about Play:

 

“The ability to play is one of the principal criteria of mental health”

Ashley Montagu

“Play is our brain's favorite way of learning.

Diane Ackerman

“Play gives children a chance to practice what they are learning.”

Fred Rogers

“Children need the freedom and time to play. Play is not a luxury. Play is a necessity.”

Kay Redfield Jamison

Two of my favorite play items:   Boobie Jacks and Jump Rope

 

 

 

 As a child, I remember adults encouraging children to go outside and burn off energy.  When I started teaching over 25 years ago, we were required to include recess as a part of our lesson plan.  Children were required to have at least 30 minutes to an hour of free-play per day.  Some teachers would break it up, 30min in the morning and 30 in the afternoon. Today, school children no longer have the freedom to explore woods and fields and find their own special places. Physical education and recess are being eliminated; new schools are being built without playgrounds.  (Almon, 2002)

It seems as if people value play a lot differently today than in the past.

I believe that play itself has not changed; it is similar today as in the past.  For instance, if you take time to watch a child in the dramatic play area or the block center, you will see play being acted out similar as in years past.  However, the opportunity to play has changed.  Kindergarten classes do not have dramatic play or block areas in their classrooms. “They do not have time for that.”  What makes it worse, children spend hours at home sitting still in front of screens- television, video game, and computer- while they absorb other people’s stories and imaginations but can’t act out their own. (Almon, 2002) 

There was a time when we could go to an open lot in our neighborhood and play baseball, kickball, volleyball, freeze tag; I can go on and on.  Well, informal neighborhood ball games are a thing of the past, as children are herded into athletic leagues. (Almon, 2002)  This problem is not only because of the electronic games that consume much of their time, but because children have no other choice but to stay in the house.  With so many homeowner association rules, it’s forbidden for children to play in front of their own yards.  There was a case last year in my brother’s neighborhood where a dad put up a portable basketball hoop; he was later told that he had to take the device down.  In a neighborhood in a nearby city, children were seen playing dodge ball, it was shortly after that, that signs went up stating and I quote “No Playing ball, skateboarding or bike riding allowed”.  In other words, No Playing allowed.  This may sound a bit over the top and shocking but it really happened.  It was so bizarre, that it aired on the local news.  Of course, after much negative attention, the signs were removed.  When I see how little adults value play, I really fear for the future of our children.

My hope is to someday have play restored in the lives of our children.  However, the progress is difficult to make because there are many parents that misguidedly prefer that their children focus on early academics. Their concern about their children’s future easily turns to fear. They then place considerable pressure on teachers. (Almon, 2002)

Play, what role did it have during my childhood? As I reflect back, play was a very big part of my life.  I was a child that loved to play. I could pretend to be anything.  It allowed me to digest life and make it my own.  I loved sports and was always the best girl at it in my class.  I remember as a child, when I was playing, it was the only time that I was not shy.  As an adult, I still like playing sports or even watching them.  I like bowling, volleyball, going to themed parks and so much more.  I like having fun.  It is like a stress reliever.  It has a positive affect on mental health. When children play, they also have fun and laugh.  In the past, I often heard older people say, “Laughter is good for the soul”. If our children loose the ability to play, this decline will certainly have serious consequences for children and for the future of childhood itself. (Almon, 2002)

 

Reference:

Almon, K. (2002). The vital role of play in early childhood education. Gateways, 43. Retrieved from http://www.waldorflibrary.org/Journal_Articles/GW43almon.pdf