Quotes About Play:
"Play is not only our creative drive; it's a fundamental mode of learning."
David Elkind
"Play is our brain's favorite way of learning."
Dianne Ackerman
Images of Play From My Childhood:
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| I loved to play with the "Little People". I had the house, little town, the airport and boat. I would play for hours and hours. I played with these toys for years. |
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| I loved my Barbie Townhouse. I had a variety of the different Barbie and Ken dolls. I would decorate the townhouse for different holidays. I also had the Barbie Corvette. Dolls from T.V. shows also came out such as Sonny and Cher and Charlie's Angels. I added them to my collection. What fun I had with my cousins and friends! |
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| Oh I loved my "Green Machine". I loved to play outside with my friends. We would ride our Green Machines, Big Wheels and bikes. We would attach a wagon with ropes and make trains and buses. |
I can honestly look back at my childhood and say I was a fortunate and happy child. My parents were not wealthy, just regular people but family was first. My dad worked hard to support and provide for my family. My mom started working when I was in elementary school and until I started high school she worked part-time. Not to say my family was perfect, my parents did divorce when I was in college, however overall I had a good childhood. My brother and I played together a lot when we were younger. During the spring, summer and fall we played outside all the time. After rain storms we would run and play in the ditch that was full of rain water. We would play all day. When the porch light came on it was time to come home. During the summer we would even play in the dark either to catch lightning bugs or play hide-n-seek. I lived in a neighborhood with many children and we played together all the time. We would ride bikes, play ball, ride our Big Wheels or Green Machines, skate, hula-hoop, jump rope and all kinds of things.
My parents supported our play by building a small paved area where we had a basketball goal. This was more for my brother but even my parents and my friends' parents played basketball. My friends and I would use the area with sidewalk chalk and make roads for our Green Machines and Big Wheels, make hopscotch patterns, and even mark a court to play around the world with basketball. When I was about seven or eight my parents built me a playhouse. My friends and I would play house, school, grocery store, and beauty shop in my playhouse. My playhouse is still there, as my dad still lives in the house where I grew up. It was great as my girls played in the playhouse too. Our neighborhood also had a pool that families could join. My parents were members and we spent many hours at the pool.
I think play is very different today verses when I was growing up. There are many families today where both parents are working, more single parents are raising children and are working and children are spending most of their waking hours at school and daycare. Children today are not outside like when I was growing up. I believe this is due to the technology of today. With video games, I-pads, cell phones and cable T.V. with movies on demand children are less active. I also believe children are not outside playing as much because they are not at home. Children are in school, in after school programs, and there are those that are in structured activities and sports. Many of these children are in structured activities year round with many of the teams traveling every weekend for games. Children do not have the "down time" to play. While the exercise and activity of structured sports is good, as is learning about team work, children need time to just run and play. When many children get home it is time to eat, do homework and go to bed.
As an adult I engaged in play with my children. I would play dolls with them, ride bikes, roller blade and play games. Though they are grown and in college we still play. We play the Wii and other games together. At family reunions one of the favorite things we do is play a game of softball with everyone. This includes all the adults and children. It is a great time. I also play with my young cousins and nieces. At work, my job allows me to visit classrooms and I play with the children. I still have lots of fun!
I also included pictures of dolls in my post. I remember how much I loved to play with them. I also loved to play outside like you and your brother did. However I had completely forgot bout catching lightening bugs, I would always watch the other children do it because I was not big on bugs. Thank you for the walk down memory lane.
ReplyDelete-Helen
I truly was taken back by your photos. I bet you are the same age as me, I almost posted the Little People photo on my blog as well and I had the Barbie townhouse too! Alas, no green machine, not even a big wheel had to wait and try my friend's when they got off!
ReplyDeleteHi Rhonda,
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your play experiences. Unlike you I was not able to play with town houses and big wheels as these were very expensive and my parents would not afford them. Nonetheless, like you loved playing outside. I had a splendid childhood playing with my sisters and cousins in our yard, at the beach and in the river. I guess it was all about nature. I believe this may have contributed to my love of science and experimenting. As an adult I still play with my nieces, grandnieces and grandnephew. We engage in games like rounders, jump rope, dominoes, sometimes we even pillow fight. I guess we can't take play out of us.
Hi Rhonda,
ReplyDeleteI loved reading your post. I also spent a great deal of time playing with my Barbie townhouse when I was younger. That elevator was incredible! Thank you for pointing out the many reasons why children might not be outside as much as they used to be. I believe you're right that parents' work schedules and long school days are playing a factor. That's why it's so important to my that children in schools are having plenty of time to play outside. They need it!
Rhonda,
ReplyDeleteI forgot the countless summer nights I would catch lightning bugs in mason jars. I would always let them go of course. It is sad when I go back home to visit my family there are not a lot of lightning bugs like I remember. I feel like my son is missing out on a fun pastime. I also agree that less children are playing outside like we did growing up. I will say that the neighborhood we recently moved into is full of children playing outside. It was a huge reason I wanted to move into the neighborhood. People are constantly out and you can hear and see children playing. I wish more children had this opportunity. I think another reason children are not outside playing like we did is that parents do not see the world as safe and want to protect their children more. What do you think? I loved reading your post.
Myra
Hi Myra,
DeleteI believe there is some truth in parents feel it may not be safe for children to play outside. It would be great if the parents could take turns in keeping an eye on the children while they play and perhaps take part in the play. Not all the time, children need to the time play on their own. But if there is an adult presence in the neighborhood this might help put some of those fears at ease.
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