Childhood Connections to Play

Play today is so different from the play in which I remember.  I recall spending my entire evening, after homework, and weekend’s outdoors.  My friends and I would just sit and enjoy the peacefulness of the sun and often the stars.  Unfortunately, many of today’s children spend far less time outdoors than did previous generations.  There has been a 25 percent decline in the time children spend playing and a 50 percent decline in time spent in unstructured outdoor activities.  Play is the work of childhood. It's the laboratory in which we as children figure out how the world works, who we are, who we want to become, and what we can and cannot do.  Bruner (1982) and Nelson (2000) stated that play is an important part of growing up as it teaches children the way in which to use and reflect on their experiences to represent their ideas and to ask and answer the questions that fixate them.

"Knowledge arises neither from objects nor the child, but from interactions between the child and those objects."    -- Jean Piaget

“It is unfortunate when children spend most of their time indoors, they’ll not just be missing out on memories but also on everything else the outdoors has to offer them.” 

   -- Rae Pica

I remember as a child playing anything outdoors, from hopscotch, jacks, baseball (as well as cheering), jumping on the trampoline or just riding my bike around the neighborhood to visit friends.

  

When I think back to my childhood, I think of the carefree days and the longing for the weekends and summer to play endlessly with my friends.  We were involved in so many outdoor activities that involved children from our neighborhood as well as those from surrounding neighborhoods.  My family would travel every summer to new unexplored places, the most memorable being Hawaii, Texas, Washington, D.C. and the Dominican Republic.  This would be two weeks of heaven, with family and relatives, as we constantly engaged in collaborative, imaginary and parallel play.  We would climb trees, swim, or just share a snack with a newfound friend.  My parents urged me to make new friends and to be active throughout the day.  We were not allowed to just sit in the house and “do nothing”, even though the temperature was well over 100°.  I remember participating in the summer youths program from the age of nine to sixteen.  This program included a barrage of outdoor activities and hundreds of kids from nearby counties.  Kids today spend most of their days indoors involved in video games and watching television.  Recess has been eliminated from school days so kids tend to think that outdoor play is not significant, because of what we are showing them.  And because of this, the obesity rate for children is skyrocketing.

Play has played a large part in making me the person that I am today.  I remember teaching my dolls, which I know enjoy as my passion-teaching, to being actively involved in sports (coaching both a swim and dance team).  It is because of “play” that I do not mind experiencing life, watching, listening and asking questions as I go along.  I found this poem which is perfect in how I summarize what play has done for me.

Just Playing

~by Anita Wadley from Chicken Soup for the Unsinkable Soul

When I'm building in the block room,
Please dont' say I'm "just playing."
For, you see, I'm learning as I play.
About balances and shapes.

When I'm getting all dressed up,
Setting the table, caring for the babies,
Don't get the idea I'm "just playing."
For, you see, I'm learning as I play.
I may be a mother or a father someday.

When you see me up to my elbows in paint,
Or standing at an easel, or molding and shaping clay,
Please don't let me hear you say "she's just playing."
For, you see, I'm learning as I play.
I'm expressing myself and being creative.
I may be an artist or an inventor someday.

When you see me sitting in a chair
"Reading" to an imaginary audience,
Please don't laugh and think I'm "just playing."
For, you see, I'm learning as I play.
I may be a teacher someday.

When you see me combing the bushes for bugs,
Or packing my pockets with choice things I find,
Don't pass it off as "just playing."
For, you see, I'm learning as I play.
I may be a scientist someday.

When you see me engrossed in a puzzle,
Or some "plaything" at my school, (daycare)
Please don't feel the time is wasted in "play"
For you see, I'm learning as I play.
I'm learning to solve problems and concentrate.
I may in business someday.

When you see me cooking or tasting foods,
Please don't think that because I enjoy it, it is just "play."
I'm learning to follow directions and see differences.
I may be a chef someday.

When you see me learning to skip, hop, run and move my body,
Please don't say I'm "just playing."
For you see, I'm learning as I play.
I'm learning how my body works.
I may be a doctor, nurse or athlete someday.

When you ask me what I've done at school (daycare) today,
And I say, "I played."
Please don't misunderstand me.
For, you see, I'm learning as I play.
I'm learning to enjoy and be successful in work.
I'm preparing for tomorrow.
Today, I'm a child and my work is play.

Your Active Child: How to Boost Physical, Emotional, and Cognitive Development through Age-Appropriate Activity (McGraw-Hill, 2003). 

Relationship Reflection

All human beings desire social interaction.  Relationships are very important to me as they make life enjoyable, satisfying and rewarding.  It is because of those close relationships that I acquire my fundamental source of learning, and without them I would not be the person that I am today.  The quality of the relationship intensely affects the confidence I have in my everyday experiences and discovering the world around me. 

My husband is my confident in that I can share my deepest thoughts with him and trusting that he appreciates me for who I am.  He knows when I am having a difficult day and knows just the right things to say to put a smile on my face. With and through him I grasp that “this too shall pass”.  My mother, a very confident and robust lady, never holds back on her thoughts or words.  Her words of wisdom always let me know that seventy-two years on this earth has taught her something.  I confide in her daily and without a doubt always take the advice she gives, for I now realize that she has my best interest in mind.  She clearly demonstrates to me the other side of the coin, without being severe.  Through both of these relationships I communicate openly, which is an essential factor.  We can candidly discuss issues, conflicts and make sound decisions all while remaining supportive. 

With the rapidity and stress of life today, relationships are sometimes low on the totem pole of things to focus on.  Nonetheless, it is vital that all my relationships continue to be nurtured and that I invest regularly in building a strong social support.  There are friends, initially coworkers that I have known over 15 years that I still stay in close contact.  It is through this friendship that we have an unexplainable bond that cannot be separated.  We often share our innermost ideas, struggles, and beliefs.  The five hundred mile distance is nothing to us, when we speak to each other, it is as if we just spoke yesterday, starting at the giggling from when we were young. 

Although making and maintaining friendship for me has always been a challenge and can sometimes be extremely difficult.  However, when I finally let down my guard, most friends know that I am very trusting and committed to them as a friend.  I am often told that I do not have many friends, and to that I convey that my friendships are solid and based and able to withstand most anything with deeper connections and understanding.

There is abundant research that suggests that close friendships are essential to a woman's health and emotional well-being; these vital ties enable them to become better wives, mothers, daughters, and workers. To maintain these relationships, though, women need to create and maintain face-to-face rituals with their female friends. This can take the form of a book club, planning regular get-togethers; chick-flick night; or planning periodic girlfriend getaways (if your friends are out-of-towners). I remember my aunt constantly reminding me, a then newlywed, to make certain I carved time for me—“me time”.  This should be done weekly and in or out of the home, but just alone time for yourself.

If it were not for the fruitful, profound relationships that I have developed over years I would not be the person that I am today (driven, professional, uncompromising, organized and loveable).  In all aspects of my life these characteristics prove to be valuable in that they keep me grounded in my stance to become a better me.  With the assistance of my family, friends and colleagues we all push each other and help one another evolve both personally and professionally. 

http://friendshipblog.com

Moore, K. (2002). Policies & Practices: Family Communications, Ideas That Really Work.    Early Childhood Today

I am well on my way!!

The months just fly right by when you are having fun.  I am now into my third course and I cannot believe how the time has flown by.  Looking forward to this one just as the previous courses.  Thanks for stopping by and hope to be in constant communication.

Be Blessed!!