pictures of essential play items for my younger self.
The two quotes that I feel summarizes what play represented for me in childhood are:
Lucia Capocchione Play keeps us vital and alive. It gives us an enthusiasm for life that is irreplaceable. Without it, life just doesn't taste good.
Henry Van Dyke Be glad of life because it gives you the chance to love and to work and to play and to look up at the stars.
The role that play, played throughout my life is benneficial. In childhood it helped me utilize my imagination, and think of different ways to play with the same item. And in adulthood, it's helped me think of different ways to have fun with my own children. To always have them guessing and anticipating "what's next?". It's also helped me think about different things from other perspectives. I'm not stuck in a box, my creativity then helps me be creative now.
I grew up in the 80's, and the way people supported play when I was younger was..........(GET READY FOR THIS)........by letting me play! I was free to be a child. I enjoyed toys and board games and playing outside with friends. I had age appropriate chores, but I was a kid. And I think because my family allowed that, I am a very well rounded person who still at this day LOVES TO PLAY!!!
The way I feel about play today is somewhat similar to play of yesteryear, and all together very different. The play I engaged in as a child was plain clean fun, using imagination and maybe a few toys to take our fun that extra mile. That's why you see the pictures of my essential play items as nature. When we went out to play we always pulled up grass, rocks, sand, sticks and made camping "fires" or "dinner" or "fireworks", everyday those same items made different fantasies.
I think some play today is similar to that, because children can take a simple box and make it into a "house" one day and a car the next. They still utilize imaginations. The way I feel it's very different is that nowadays children do not get to play as I did. It's more video games than anything. Physical play has almost been eradicated. Yeah I'm exaggerating, but you don't see as many children playing outside and you did YEARS ago. And with some children the only outdoor play they get is at school.
My classmate Agneatha Wright mentioned "there are so many commercial toys in the market today. I think this diminishes imaginative play". That statement makes so much sense! I use to make play food w/grass; my niece on the other hand has a kitchen set with make believe food...not much imagination needed!
My hope for the youth today, with regards to play is I hope they'll play more because, it's an essential part of life. My classmate Deanna Scardina-Mozdzen said it perfectly when she said "play is such a wonderful learning experience that enhances all areas of development" and I couldn't agree with her more!!!!
Loved your post!! I too was an 80's child and was encouraged to play often and to even play outside.
ReplyDeleteYour post about play reminded me of my childhood. We were encouraged to play and use our resources to become the tool we needed - sticks were wands, the microwave was our drive-thru order screen, etc. Now days, if a child wants a wand, they won't settle for a stick, they need the actual thing. I agree with you and Agneatha that commercial items are affecting the ways our children play today.
ReplyDeleteJust like your mother, my mother always encouraged me to play. Through play it was like free expression. We would be outside all day and night without a care in the world. Now you have to be more concerned with who you let your children play with and the area they play in. As parents it is essential to keep your children out of harms way. That is a big difference from play back then to play in today's society.
ReplyDeleteYour post was great!! I loved playing outside in the dirt and the sand! I do agree with you the physical play seems to have just vanished. Video games are every where and kids are playing them non-stop.
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