My Connections to Play

Two quotes that I feel summarize what play represented for me in my childhood. 

This quote is very meaningful to me. Not just because it comes from one of my favorite movies "A Cinderella Story" but because it has true meaning. To me, this quote means not letting anything get in the way of your dreams, hopes, and aspirations. We will always have fears in life but we can't let them stop us from accomplishing our goals. We have a plan set in mind for things we want to do in life and we have to go for it and not allow anything to get in our way.

  Always jump in the puddles!  Always skip alongside the flowers.  The only fights worth fighting are the pillow and food varieties.  ~Terri Guillemets

This quote simply means to enjoy the simple things in life. Let your children be little. Always jump in the puddles, let them play in a bed of roses, and let them live life to the fullest!

Three pictures of required/necessary play items for younger children:

ABC BUILDING BLOCKS

BOOKS

RIDE ON TOYS

When I was younger, people supported play by buying me toys that helped me to use my imagination, they let me have free play, I was encouraged to play with my siblings which helped to promote my social skills, my Dad would play kick ball with me often which helped advance my physical development. My Grandpa's would make time to come over and spend time with me. They would involve their self in whatever I wanted to do. " Parents can support their child’s development by choosing activities at home which gives them a chance to explore and use their imaginations." (Learning Through Play, 2003) I feel that my role of playing as a child consisted of playing not only indoors but outdoors as well. I think that parents play a big role in their child's play. Parents are their children's biggest role models, supporters, and encourager. I was never involved with any after school activities but I had a lot to do at home. My Dad built me and my siblings a tree fort, we had a lot of property to play on, and we had a lot of toys to play with. Play is essential to development because it contributes to physical, emotional, social, and cognitive well being of children and youth. Play is a good opportunity for parents to engage fully with their children.

I feel that there are a few slight differences in how play is different from when I was a young child compared to how it is now. I feel that we have more toys, more technology ,and more educational things to play with. Back then, they didn't have as many toys as we do now.  The price of toys back then were extremely reasonable whereas in today's society, toys seem to be much more expensive where some families can not afford them unless they are given to them or they find them as second hand thrift stores. I feel that children in today's society are very lucky because back when my parents were born they didn't have much. I grew up with a decent amount of toys to play with. My Dad worked two jobs and my mom worked one job, they did everything they could to make sure we had everything we needed, including toys and things to play with. My hope for young children in regards to play is that their parents will involve themselves when their children play. It's a good time for parents to bond with their children and it's amazing how much a child can learn when their parents spend time with them and teach them things. I hope that they are given educational toys, toys that will help promote the appropriate skills they need as they get older. Most of all, I hope for them to have fun and perhaps they can teach another child something they have learned. I know a lot of what I have learned has been from other people. I always like to share my knowledge with others. 

The role of play throughout my life has helped to shape me into the person I am. I feel a lot of what I was given to play with taught me a lot about life and I learned a lot about myself too. I gained a lot of skills needed in order to grow up into an adult. The role of music and writing played a big role in my life. I enjoyed singing and writing. Children learn the most between birth and five years of age. It's important for children's minds to be stimulated so they do learn. Interactions with others is a necessary part of life.

References:

Learning through play. (2003). Retrieved from https://www.pre-school.org.uk/parents/support-advice/420/learning-through-play

Wallace, K. (2011, January 28). How your child benefits from play. Retrieved from http://www.babycenter.com/0_how-your-child-benefits-from-play_64065.bc