Children have always learned and created places for themselves through play.
Donna R. Barnes
Contemporary American psychologist
Contemporary American psychologist
1896–1980
It is in playing, and only in playing, that the individual child or adult is able to be creative and to use the whole personality, and it is only in being creative that the individual discovers the self.
D.W. Winnicott
British pediatrician
1896–1971
British pediatrician
1896–1971
Our all time favor game was hid-n-seek, as we used multiple yards to play.
As a child growing up play was a way of escaping from the daily chores, since both of my parents worked and as the oldest child a lot of responsibility fell to me. The neighborhood we lived in was amazing as everyone had gates that connected them to the house behind them. We will often play hid-n-seek between the yards. Even the neighbors who did have children didn’t mind us playing in their yards as long as we respected their property. I can remember playing until it was dark and going home so tired that I was relaxed from my other responsibilities. The neighborhood supported all of the children in play allowing us an open area to roam and explore.
Play today is different from when I played as a child. There is so much technology out that children stay inside playing games, on the computer or watching television. As a child television wasn’t important. We created our own games as most parents didn’t have extra money to buy games. Children don’t know what it is like to go outside and play. I would love to see more parents and education systems encouraging play for all children. Play offers a nice break in the academic day and is a good stress reliever for all age’s of children. Play is the first steps to children learning socially, emotionally, cognitively and helps to promote a healthy development all around.
I think play has helped me to be creative in my own hobbies. Looking back play was a time for me to escape and be a kid. Often time was not permitted for play and I think that has affected some of my social confidence, especially when speaking in front of others. I remember the times the neighborhood children got together to play we had fun laughing, hanging out and just being with others our age.
Kickball was the best when all the neighborhood kids could get together for tournament.
Wanda,
ReplyDeleteI agree, play is so much different than when I was growing up, many many years ago. Your comment about kickball reminded me of the many games of kick the can that we played in the middle of the road, it was just a given to the few drivers by that we would be there on summer afternoons/evenings. It was so much fun. Now it like you have to pry our children away from television, computers, and video games. As, my children are grown and we are expecting our first grandchild, I hope that I have instilled the idea of how important play is to my children.
Dear Wanda-
ReplyDeleteI love the photos you included in your blog. I felt as if I was there playing hide-n-seek and kickball. I too was the oldest, and play was a way for me to escape responsibilities as well. It sounds like you had a wonderful network of neighbors, and how cool it was to have a shared, big back yard! I wish my children had the ability to go next door and play with the neighbors, but we live overseas and it makes walking next door a little difficult. I agree with you in that play is the first steps in learning socially, emotionally, cognitively and helps to promote a healthy development all around.