My Connection to Play
“We are never more fully alive, more completely ourselves, or more deeply engrossed in anything than when we are playing." -Charles Schaefer
"Play is the highest form of research." -Albert Einstein
Play was a large part of my childhood. Whether it was physical play, a board game or puzzle, or fantasy play I developed many life and social skills that have aided my adult life. Through play I have created, pretended, learned and made friends. From those experiences I have learned how to interact and cooperate with others, as well as teach those necessary skills to my students. I am thankful for my bountiful play experiences through my childhood because they have shaped me into who I am today.
"Play is the highest form of research." -Albert Einstein
Home Kitchen Set
Barbies
Play was an important part of my childhood. I participated in a lot of solitary play because I am an only child and was not able to play with friends all the time. However, my parents played with me when they could and supported the different types of play I participated in. My dad would play outside with me, which encouraged me to be physically active and aided in the development of my motor skills (Wardle, n.d.). I would also create games using forts in the living room, or by using my dolls, which enforced my creativity and imagination.
I believe play has changed immensely since I was a child. Technology has become a large component of play in the last decade. When I ask my kindergarten students what they like to play, they respond with the title of a game on their iPad or tablet. If someone were to ask me what my favorite game was as a child, I would have said playing with my dolls or hide and seek. Many of my students have dolls or play outside with their families, but they are not as prominent as the games they play using technology. Certain technological games can require high-functioning thinking skills, but they do not typically include the physical, social, and fantasy aspects of play that are so essential for a child (Wardle, n.d.). I hope that one day play progresses away from heavy technology use, and back to personal, physical, and creative play. Children should learn how to interact with each other and use their imaginations instead of always using a tablet and having the creativity done for them.
Play was a large part of my childhood. Whether it was physical play, a board game or puzzle, or fantasy play I developed many life and social skills that have aided my adult life. Through play I have created, pretended, learned and made friends. From those experiences I have learned how to interact and cooperate with others, as well as teach those necessary skills to my students. I am thankful for my bountiful play experiences through my childhood because they have shaped me into who I am today.
References
Wardle,
F. (n.d.). Play as curriculum. Retrieved August 1, 2010, from http://www.earlychildhoodnews.com/earlychildhood/article_view.aspx?ArticleID=127
Tara,
ReplyDeleteIn my post I also talked about how play has changed from when I was a child. Play in my childhood looks very similar to play from your childhood. In my post, I also shared that when I ask my students what they like to do for fun, they respond with something that uses technology. My hope is that parents reflect on their play experiences and encourage their children to participate in more play that does not involve technology.
The quote "Play is the greatest form of research" really spoke to me. Children can learn so much from play, probably even more than what a teacher can teach. I think if parents and educators look at play as children "researching" that could change some perspectives on play.
Thank you for sharing!!
Bri
I like your quote from Albert Einsten, play allow them to discover and learning from other. I use the kitchen set as a way that children play. In housekeeping, you see a lot of girls pretending to cook and clean because they have observed their parents. Most boys are in block area pretending to build.
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