My Connections to Play

“The very existence of youth is due in part to the necessity for play; the animal does not play because he is young, he has a period of youth because he must play.” Karl Groos (German evolutionary biologist)

 

“The activities that are the easiest, cheapest, and most fun to do – such as singing, playing games, reading, storytelling, and just talking and listening – are also the best for child development.” ~ Jerome Singer (professor, Yale University)

 

My parents were very supportive of play.  I grew up in a rural area with my five siblings, lots of nieces and nephews, and cousins that lived next door.  Several of my school friends also lived nearby.  The neighborhoods were safe to the point where we never locked our door.  We were allowed to play all day and we actually enjoyed it.  My parents would come out with us at times and play kickball or basketball or watch us ride the bicycle and so forth.  Overall, they probably got lots of alone time because we were outside all day which gave them a break as well.  Play today is definitely different!  My oldest son will sit inside all day and play video games and watch TV if I allowed him to do so.  I make it a point to take my younger children outside daily to allow them to get a sense of how I grew up.  They love to play outside and go to the park.  I even allow them to go in the backyard and play alone with one another so that they can use their imaginations or figure things out without me there to step in.  Play is still the same in that children love only need a few items to enjoy themselves.  They are happy are long as they are loved and shown attention.  My children love it more when I chase them around the yard than they do playing with some toy. 

 

I am thankful to have grown up in the era that I did.  We were a generation that respected and feared adults.  We were honest and communicated with one another by calling them on the phone or going to their door and asking their parents if they could come out and play.  However, I do appreciate  the convenience of technology and make it a point to learn about these things because my children are growing up in a technological era.  With that being said, I still teach them the importance of respect and allow them to have play dates with their friends at a park or some type of physical play. 

 

 

My 3 favorite items as a child: a bicycle, kickball, and a tree.  As a child I rode my bike everyday.  On the weekends my siblings and cousins would play outside all day.  We played kickball all the time which was a blast because there were enough of us to have teams and we used the telephone poles (which were in the perfect locations) for bases; and  the yard was huge, so plenty of exercise.  I was a tomboy, so climbing trees was a must.