My Connection to Play

A man is getting old when he walks around a puddle instead of through it. R.C. Ferguson

We don’t stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing. George Bernard Shaw

I have many memories of picking wildflowers by the bunch as a child and filling anything I could find to put them in.  I remember also pressing them between pages of books to dry and save.  My grandmother had this huge lilac bush that we would pick from and fill her house with the scent of lilacs.

I grew up in Maine and we had lots of playtime outside in the snow.  I remember making snow-angels, building snowmen and sliding down hills on toboggans and sleds with my sisters, brother and cousins behind my grandparent’s house.

I can remember having big family picnics at the state park with all of my dad’s family there-cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents.  There were big wooden swing sets and teeter totters to play on.  We toasted marshmallows over the fire pit.

As a child a lot of our play was based upon being outside enjoying nature and physical activity.  We always had lots of big family gatherings and the kids all usually ended up outside at some point playing tag, catching lightning bugs, picking berries or some activity of that sort.  We grew up in a very rural area on a farm.  There were only four television channels, (no cable or DVD), no cell phone, computers or video games.  I can remember being almost a pre-teen before we had our first Atari.  There was always something to do or explore outside, whatever the season.  We had as much fun in the snow as the sunshine.  I remember going outside and bringing in buckets of snow so we could help my mom make homemade ice cream.  We even thought that turning the handle to freeze the ice cream was fun back then.

Play for us was very social, related most often to outside activity and no batteries or electricity was involved.  Today, I feel play is very different; almost opposite to the extreme of when I grew up.  There is certainly limited outside time, limited self-directed or exploratory play.  Almost every child you see these days has some sort of electronic device either in their hands on or very close to them.  I have even seen parents give their cell phone to infants to play with the buttons.  Where is this all heading?  Far, far from the sort of play that we should be encouraging and fostering in our children and the environments we are providing.  There is much to be said about getting back to nature and the basics…

I have three sons who are in their twenties now.  I remember trying to expose them to a variety of activities- group, individual, structured, unstructured and creative.    Our house had lots of balls, blocks, books, ice skates, and crayons in it.  They liked to run, swim, explore and just be outside.  When they found something they enjoyed, we continued with that activity or sport.  Each of them grew up with a love for music; of all types.  They self- taught themselves how to play guitar, drums and almost any instrument that they pick up.  Band class was not nearly as fun and probably as frustrating for the teacher as them.  The teacher saw talent, the boys were not responding well to the confines of what and when the teacher wanted them to learn and do.  This quote is a perfect example of this:

If I get to pick what I want to do, then it’s play…if someone else tells me that I have to do it, then it’s work. Patricia Nourot

I feel the role of play whether you are a child, adult or somewhere in between is to help us stay refreshed, creative, and enjoying life filled with discoveries and experiences that make life interesting and new. 

Nell, Drew and Bush included a quote by Schweinhart,  that states it quite nicely:

            At birth, we first learn to make sense of booming, buzzing confusion.  We learn from what we see, feel, touch, taste, smell, and do.  We develop the special human abilities of language speaking, listening, reading, writing, and discovering meaning.  These new abilities enrich our lives with whole new realms of knowledge, but they never replace our immediate world of senses and activities.  We learn what we do, (2013).

They go on to state, “For children, play is at the heart of early understanding about the natural world, mathematical concepts, literacy, and social and emotional competence.  For adults, hands-on play and reflection lead to personal growth and foster insight into how children learn,” (Nell, Drew & Bush, 2013).  As adults, we must take the time to understand and facilitate play and environments that are conducive to play for children to optimize their creativity and potential.  As early childhood educators and professionals, we must take on the role of advocates and educate those who do not fully understand the nature and importance of play in children’s and adult’s lives.

Reference

Nell, M., Drew, W., & Bush, D. (2013). From play to practice.  Connecting teachers’ play to children’s learning.  Washington, D.C. NAEYC.