"Children need the freedom and time to play. Play is not a luxury. Play is a necessity." Kay Redfield Jamison
"You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation." Plato
When I was a little girl, my family supported play by purchasing the types of items I loved to play with. I grew up in a close family with plenty of children. My family would take all of the children to different places that allowed us to be creative and play in our surroundings. My aunts would make authentic doll houses for me to be creative with. My mother would introduce me to different types of items to use my imagination with. I feel that my entire family always encouraged all of the children in my family to play and most importantly, to be creative. Whenever I wanted to try something new, my family would encourage me to try it. They never stopped me from playing! My family would assist me with building things while letting me be creative.
I feel that play today has lost the since of creativity and imagination. When I was younger, I would play with my peers or alone for hours at a time. Now, it seems that children expect to be guided in play. I can recall having one video game system that I hardly played with because it just seemed too boring for me. The children today have several video game systems that don't stimulate the growing child. I notice children who have the same items that I would play with but the difference would be that they did not understand what to do with it. I feel that if the educators and parents don't allow children the chance to explore then our future inventors will be lost.
The role of play in my childhood gave me the confidence to know that I can dream big and do anything. It gave me the courage to know that nothing is impossible! Without play in my childhood, I might not be where I am today. I was given the opportunity to explore creativity and imagination on my own terms. I feel that play must be reevaluated by adults in order for our children to truly play.
2 comments:
Hi Chantrell,
I was a bit of a tomboy, but I had my share of barbies ( which I loved!) I completely agree with your statement about children losing there sense of creativity. Television and other technological gadgets have taken that away.
Thanks for sharing!
I loved Barbies, dolls, and dollhouses too! I had a small one but wanted a Victorian Doll House that I never received from my dad. :( I still tease him and say he "owes" me.
Chantrell you made an interesting point that I agree with and thats how children have to be "guided" to play. It amazes me that people seemed shocked that my 8 year old daughter "still" plays with dolls. I'm like why swouldn't she, she's 8? My children have big imaginations because 1. we don't have cable 2. I refuse to be their entertainment 3. they play outside alot!
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