"My Connections to Play."
The 2 quotes
that I feel summarize my feelings of childhood play are :
1. For a small child there is no division
between playing and learning; between the things he or she does ‘just for fun’
and things that are ‘educational.’ The child learns while living and any part
of living that is enjoyable is also play. ~ Penelope Leach (psychologist and
author).
2. Children
need the freedom and time to play. Play is not a luxury. Play is a necessity.”
Kay Redfield Jamison (professor of psychiatry).
When I was growing up, my family could not afford video games,
cable and internet. My childhood play consist of going outside and finding
something to play with and returning home before the street light came on.
This type of play exposed me to different types of animals, insects, plants,
trees, how to climb trees etc. I was given hours and hours of exploration time
with simple rules: Do not leave the neighborhood and be back inside before the
street lights come on. I believe that in today’s play time, play is somewhat
scripted and it does not allow the child to maximize the gains of explorations. Not only does play allow the
child to loosen up and release some energy; most importantly the child will
learn and develop socially and emotionally through exploring on their own
terms. It is very critical for both parents and
educators to understand that play is much more than a recreational pastime for
children. The importance of play in child development and learning is vitally
significant. It is through a child’s active play that they acquire and refine
many of the prerequisite skills that contribute to successful learning.
The two things I chose were a ball and a stick. I feel these two things provide unlimited exploration ideas.
