"My Connections 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 our brain’s favorite way of learning.” -Diane Ackerman


When I was younger, my play was supported by my mother and my teachers. Play was a major aspect of my childhood.  My mother bought me toys such as cups, pots, pans, and other cooking utensils so I could pretend play and role play as if I was a stay-at-home mother taking care of children and cleaning house.  My teachers supported my play as they allowed me to play with toys inside of the classroom, and I was playing outside as well.  Because of my mother and my teachers, I was able to develop socially, physically, emotionally, and cognitively.  Playing enabled me to enhance my skills in multiple areas.  Although play was important during my childhood, it has changed from the time.
Play is different now for young children than it was when I was younger.  For example, children now have more technology at their fingertips, so they are able to play more computer games, which could help their cognitive development.  However, playing games all the time keeps young children stagnant because they are not developing physically, socially, and emotionally.  I hope that young parents make their children become active participants outside whether it is through playing sports or just riding bikes outside so the children can develop in other areas.  Therefore, play is necessary in children’s lives because it helps them cultivate their skills as they grow throughout childhood and into adulthood.

                                                            References
Move With Me. (2017). Retrieved from https://move-with-me.com/uncategorized/play-quotes/

Comments

  1. Julie MacLeodSeptember 30, 2017 at 5:23 PM

    I also worry that the over-dependence on electronic devices for entertainment limits children's ability to practice vital social skills becuase playingcomputers and tablets are generally solitary pursuits and lack social interactions.

    ReplyDelete
  2. BOctober 1, 2017 at 7:45 AM

    Teresa,

    I agree that play is necessary in the lives of children. I find that in this day and age we spend so much time preparing children for adulthood that we take away their play. Ironically, play is preparation for adulthood.

    Thanks for sharing,
    Beatriz

    ReplyDelete
  3. AnonymousOctober 1, 2017 at 5:18 PM

    Pretend play with the pots and pans were the reason I wanted to learn how to cook. I can remember as a child, getting those pots and pans and going outside, picking the grass and pretending that I was cooking. Cognitive development was key to this play activity.

    ReplyDelete

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