My Connections to Play

This week at Walden University we have been discussing play and the benefits to play. It made me think of myself playing when I was a child, and boy do I miss it! Not a care in the world, out all day all summer, and making up the most outrageous games with my sister and friends.

Here are two quotes that I think sum up play in ways that I could not say:

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

“If you want creative workers, give them enough time to play” 
― John Cleese

When I was growing up I had my certain play toys that I love!  I feel that these twos things were essential for me growing up! Those would be Beanie Babies (first generation child here!) and any type of playground. I can remember spending hours and hours with my Beanie Babies!

                                                   

                                       

                When I was little playing was so different than it is today. My parents would encourage me to play all day basically. The only exceptions were during meal times and in public places like a mall or restaurant. They would let me ride my bike down the street to my friend’s house and stay there all day. They would give me and my sister big boxes and anything that we wanted to play in. My dad also created games for us to play with him and was very creative. My dad was the biggest part of encouragement for my sister and I for playing. When he got home from work every day he would play with us no matter how tired he was. He was always there and I looked forward to him coming home every day.

                Today play is different because of how parents act and how our society is now. Parents rarely let their children play outside without supervisor when as a child I could remember playing without my parents watching me. Parent’s schedules now are also different. They are busier with longer hours and more stress in the work place. Coming home sometimes parents do not want to play with their children and encourage solitary play for their child. Playing needs to have interaction because socially that is how a child learns.  Solitary play does have it benefits, but I believe most playing should be done at least with another person. I feel that without the play time that I had growing up with my friends and family members I would not be the person I am today. My creative playtime as a child has turned me into a creative person today. I hope in the future children are given the same opportunities for playtime as I was when I was a child.