My Connections to Play

When I was younger, my play was supported by my family and others at a neighborhood recreational center.   We were allowed to play in our community without threats of shootings or being kidnapped.   I remember running up and down a ditch, playing hide and seek, and playing racing games with friends.  My sisters and I would walk to our recreation center that was at least five miles from our home.  There we would play foursquare, swim, jump on the trampoline, play on the outside toys, and play team sports.  We didn’t have electronic games to keep up busy.  We engaged in active play and board games during rainy or cold weather days. “Early childhood educators, child development specialists, and some parents believe play is the best way for young children to learn concepts, skills, and tasks needed to set a solid foundation for later school and life success.”  (Wardle, n.d.).

Parents today are still allowing their children to play outside in the communities surrounding where I live.  Children are still allowed to walk to the same recreational center and engage in play.  However, in certain communities, play is not so freely allowed.  Parents control their children’s play and enroll them in sports or classes which have certain time periods.  Children that are in organized play don’t know how to entertain themselves when there is not something scheduled for them to do.  Additionally, children are engaged In video games and electronic play that had caused them to become obese due to the lack of physical activity.

My adulthood play is really different from my childhood play.  I am not as physically active and I find myself in front of the computer a lot.  However, I would like to engage in more physical activity to keep me feeling young.  The times that I do engage in active play reminds me of how carefree play makes you feel.  Play seems to make you feel happy and joyful.

I think of how children smile, laugh, and enjoy their times of play.  Children should have times of active play and be shown how to play alone instead of choosing to play a video game or watch
TV.  In my alone times as a child, I would throw a ball against a wall, shoot hoops, play on outside toys, or walk to a friend house.  Play is important and keeps you feeling alive.  We should all play more.  "With creative play, children blossom and flourish; without it, they suffer a serious decline.  (Almon, 2002).

These pictures represent some of the play I engaged in as a child.

References

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

 

Play Quotes.  (2013).  The Strong.com.  Retrieved from http://www.thestrong.org/about-play/play-quotes

Wardle, F. (n.d.). Play as curriculum. Retrieved August 1, 2010, from http://www.earlychildhoodnews.com/earlychildhood/article_view.aspx?ArticleID=127