My Connections to Play

Throughout my childhood my parents would present different opportunities for my siblings and I to participate in. For example, we were enrolled in different organized sports, we would go to the park, take vacations, and play with friends. In each situation, we were presented with different activities and had to learn what to do. Throughout this time, we also learned to explore and create our own games as we played.   I think this taught me to become more independent in my life and gave me more knowledge and exposure on different experiences.





This quote could not be more true! As I teach third grade students, I see a huge difference in their life compared to mine. When I talk with my students about what they like to do for fun, they often discuss something that involves technology. Throughout my childhood, I did not have a phone or access to the internet like we do today. I remember playing outside with my friends and neighbors inventing our own games, playing on a playground, and playing sports. Social media can have a negative impact on children and I believe children are exposed to inappropriate things because of their access. I would not consider myself to be a sheltered child, but I definitely did not know everything my parents knew and was not overwhelmed                                                                  by media and all things internet.

Essential Play Items from my childhood:

My siblings and I would always play with these cardboard blocks building different structures, knocking the blocks down and creating different obstacle courses. My parents would help create these structures with us and always supported my play. 

  
I had many Barbies, Baby Dolls, and Beanie Babies that I would play with often. This was a great chance for me to create different scenarios and have an opportunity for fantasy play. My sister and I would often play "house" where we would act like my Mom. My parents were very supportive of this play and would allow us to bring our dolls out of the house to continue the play. 

Throughout my childhood I had many opportunities for arts and crafts. My parents were supportive in this play and would often draw, color, or build with me. When we had Playdoh out, my parents would get all the accessories out and would help us create different pieces with the Playdoh. Throughout my house my artwork was displayed showing me that my parents were proud of what I created. 

Play Today:

Play today is very different from my childhood. While children still play with some of the items I shared, more of their play is focused on using technology and on the internet. I feel play is different because children are not spending as much time outside playing with peers. In addition to this, children today have access to technology that I did not have in the past. I hope that children today get to experience more of the play I experienced at home and their parents reflect on what their child is doing after school. In addition this, I hope that in Early Childhood Education programs are beginning to add more play into the curriculum allowing children a chance to develop the important skills that can be learned from play.

Role of Play: 

When thinking about my childhood, I believe that I was exposed to different opportunities to play. My parents enrolled me in different programs, I experienced different play opportunities in school and I spent a lot of time out doors. Opportunities for play in my childhood allowed me to explore and learn things on my own preparing me for different experiences in adulthood. Thinking about the opportunities children are presented with today when it comes to play, I am grateful for what I experienced in my childhood, and I believe I was able to develop important skills to be successful that some children today may not exposed to today because their "play" looks different. My friends and family played a huge role in the play I was exposed to as a child. My parents were always trying to present new opportunities to my siblings and I and we were always encouraged to play with friends.