My Connections to Play

Quotes that summarize what play represented for childhood

“You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation.” 
― Plato

“Men do not quit playing because they grow old; they grow old because they quit playing.” 
― Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr.

“We are never more fully alive, more completely ourselves, or more deeply engrossed in anything, than when we are at play.” 
― Charles E. Schaefer

Pictures of essential play items for my younger self

 

The role of play in my childhood was just that; play. Each day we desired to go outside to see what our cousins were doing and to see what new journeys we would embark on that day. My cousins and I were excited to see each other and most days, we rode our bikes, played in the fields, walked to our private clubhouses, or went to the pond. Play during those times was exciting and fun; we did not need anyone to tell us to go outside to play. Even when it rained, we snuck outside to make mud pies; everyday was a new adventure. We played house, school, doctor, fisherman, hunter, and any other adult roles we knew about. My childhood was great; I was raised around most of my maternal family members. When I looked out of any of my windows, I could see an aunt or uncles’ house in my view. My cousins and I played, laid, ate, and went to school together. All of my cousins and I are still very close knit, even today.

The adults in my life including my mother, father, grandparents, cousins, uncles, and aunts, supported play by encouraging us to go on adventures. My uncle taught us how to hunt with a gun, he showed up how to work on a farm, and how to ride horses. He was like a father to every child. He was loved because he loved and cared for all of us. My father taught my brother and me how to fish; he showed us how to ride a bike, and how to enjoy the things we had around the house. My mother was a hard worker, most of the time she was too tired to do anything. While she relaxed, we did things for her, and played outside when we were done. She was the best mother I have ever encountered in my life. She took us to church on Saturday and on Sunday, she took us to our friend’s house to play and swim. My grandparents believed in play, but they always told us that our work comes first. My grandparents owned their land and they had many fields on it. They had fields of peas, butter beans, tomatoes, okra, watermelon, and more. They taught us how to pick and shell peas; we hated doing this until we got a peas sheller. After helping them, our grandparents encouraged us to play outside; they did not allow us to stay in the house. My entire childhood was based on all play and a moderation of work. Our chores and playtime taught us valuable life lessons. My family encouraged all positive things and showed us how negative things would affect our lives. Play allowed me to explore, learn, and remember the things that I needed to be a great adult. I still use many things I learned as a child to help me through some of my troubles in adulthood.

Today, playtime for children is very different from play during my childhood. I grew up in the 80’s and playtime was playtime. Running, jumping, hopping, singing, dancing, playing dress up, skating, biking, fishing, hunting, jump roping, and making mud pies was all of the components we needed to enjoy a great day of childhood play. Today, children are screen attics meaning, all they do is look at a TV screen, computer screen, or the screen of a game boy or DS. It is sad that children get upset when asked to go outside to play. Most of them would rather stay indoors and play with a gadget or some electronic device. I hope parents begin to require children to play outside more; children can only do what you allow them to do. I hope children will began to value outdoor play verses indoor activities. Please understand, there are meaningful games a child can play while inside including, hide and seek, board games, duck duck goose; but most of these games are better when you have the opportunity to play them outside. Even if a child has a disability, there are many games they can play outdoors to help them build gross motor, cognitive, and fine motor skills. Learning about nature, has a way of teaching children and adults how to maneuver in life. I hope children will see how physically stronger they will be with outside gross motor play, and mentally, they will be able to understand common sense things. Play and outside play allows you to build learning by exploring the world around you. Play is how children “work,” and today’s children need to “work” harder.

My thoughts about play throughout my childhood and adulthood have come full circle. Play plays a role in exploration, education, skill building, and overall fun. The play activities I have encountered as a child are very similar to the play activities I engaged in each day with my children at school. I teach each of them to use play experiences as a time to have fun and learn while they are engaged. I encourage them to do less hitting and more looking at the world around them. Play during my childhood has taught me how to be a great educator; sometimes, when I look at my colleagues at work, I can tell who played as a child and who did not. Many of them are scared to go outside, touch worms or bugs, or even experience the elements outdoors. My thoughts about play in regard to my life is simple; I will continue to play as long as I live. When I began a family of my own, I will marry a great husband who believes in play. I want my entire family to experience some parts of my childhood in regards to play; because, I know they will enjoy every moment. When I have a family, camping, fishing, hunting, and traveling with be a big part of their childhood and overall life experience; these experiences and my play opportunities have made me the fun, loving, and caring person I am today.