“MY CONNECTIONS TO PLAY”

Quotes of What Play Represented For Me in Childhood

“Children need the freedom and time to play.   Play is not a luxury.   Play is a necessity.”   Kay Redfield Jamison (professor of psychiatry)

“Playing should be fun!  In our great eagerness to teach our children we studiously look for ‘educational’ toys, games with built-in lessons, books with a ‘message.’  Often these ‘tools’ are less interesting and stimulating than the child’s natural curiosity and playfulness.  Play is by its very nature educational.   And it should be pleasurable. When the fun goes out of play, most often so does the learning.” ~ Joanne E. Oppenheim (child development expert, author)

Describe how people supported play when you were younger and/or the role of play in your childhood.

My mother raised eight of us.  My siblings and I were encouraged by many adults,

like my mother, my teachers, my aunts and my uncles to play together.  When we

were at home we would play games like tag, hide-n-seek, mother may I, house, or

red rover red rover.  When we played kickball or dodge ball we always argued

about the rules or taking turns when playing jump rope.   It helped us to build

relationships, solve problems, regulate our behaviors and negotiate when needed. 

My mother would always tell us to make a game out of playing.  She would remind

us that there is a learning experience in everything that we do including relieving

stress.   At home we were allowed playtime at least 3 or maybe 4 hours a day, not

consecutive hours, and at school we were allowed about an hour.  When I was a

child play was fun and exciting and I always looked forward to it, I also learned

different things in the process.  I not only learned from my siblings, but I also

learned from the children in the neighborhood. 

Write a brief entry on how you feel play today is similar or different from the play in which you engaged as a child and what your hope for young is now with regard to play.

I think play today is very different from how play used to be when I was a child.  Today you rarely find groups of children outside playing together.   Children today spend less time in play and have less free time.   Many children spend less time outside playing because of safety reasons, child predators, road traffic or bullies.  As school they spend less time outside because of set schedules and rules.   Today, play in not considered to be as important as test scores on end of grade tests (EOGs).  Today I hope that professionals as well as adults realize the importance of play and how it is a necessity for young children.  Play helps children learn how to make decisions, solve problems, exert self- control, and follow rules as well as learn how to handle their emotions, including anger and fear, during play.  Play is a source of happiness and it helps children make friends and learn to get along with each other as equals.  

Include your thoughts regarding the role of play throughout your life and/or the role of play throughout childhood and adulthood.

Play is important; it brings joy, and is vital in regards to problem solving, creativity and relationships. We do no need to play every second of the day to enjoy play’s benefits.  I realize that society dismisses play for adults.  It seems as though once we reach adulthood, it’s time to get serious because between personal and professional responsibilities, there’s no time to play.  Play is very critical when it comes to development of the human brain and behavior.   Play not only brings enjoyment to the person, but creates a social atmosphere, and helps develop cognitive and physical skills.   Not to mention, helping relieve stress.  Just because we are older, doesn't mean it has to be all about work.  Sometimes, we all need to play every once in a while.