“Play builds the kind of free-and-easy, try-it-out, do-it-yourself character that our future needs.” ~James L. Hymes Jr.
Our play was free and easy, and very much left to our imagination. Fromt that, we learned to think outside the box.
"You are worried about seeing him spend his early years in doing nothing. What! Is it nothing to be happy? Nothing to skip, play, and run around all day long? Never in his life will he be so busy again.” ~Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Emile, 1762
As a child in my generation, we spent our free time engaged in play that simply made us happy.
Play was an basic part of my life, and something my parents encouraged. Perhaps that was because of the times, no computers, cell phones, video games; in fact, we did not even have cable television. I am not sure I can actually say my parents supported play by providing materials or initiating it, as play was not considered an oddity or a privilege, rather, an expected behavior. We were expected to do our chores, we were expected to finish homework, and we were expected to “go play.” Unlike the children of today, it was rare to find children in my generation, inside on a nice day, or glued to a television. We played dodge ball in chase instead of dodging bullets in a video game, we rode our bikes to our friend’s house, instead of phoning, and we swung on swings or climbed trees to talk about our days and plan our futures rather than posting them over the internet. It was through play that we learned to socialize, to converse and to engage with others, and it was through play that we learned responsibility, self-regulation, and negotiation. Most importantly, I believe that through play, we learned to problem solve by thinking outside the box and we learned to enjoy life. I would hope opportunities to play would be returned to today’s children, so that they too may learn to enjoy life.
Play, an essential component of life for both children and adults, is self-initiated activities that are designed for amusement, but have a direct influence on psychosocial and biosocial development and can help reduce the symptoms of stress. Play is living in the moment, free of self-consciousness, and totally engaged in the process. Adults and children alike need opportunities for expression and engagement, with total enjoyment.
Our play was free and easy, and very much left to our imagination. Fromt that, we learned to think outside the box.
"You are worried about seeing him spend his early years in doing nothing. What! Is it nothing to be happy? Nothing to skip, play, and run around all day long? Never in his life will he be so busy again.” ~Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Emile, 1762
As a child in my generation, we spent our free time engaged in play that simply made us happy.
Play was an basic part of my life, and something my parents encouraged. Perhaps that was because of the times, no computers, cell phones, video games; in fact, we did not even have cable television. I am not sure I can actually say my parents supported play by providing materials or initiating it, as play was not considered an oddity or a privilege, rather, an expected behavior. We were expected to do our chores, we were expected to finish homework, and we were expected to “go play.” Unlike the children of today, it was rare to find children in my generation, inside on a nice day, or glued to a television. We played dodge ball in chase instead of dodging bullets in a video game, we rode our bikes to our friend’s house, instead of phoning, and we swung on swings or climbed trees to talk about our days and plan our futures rather than posting them over the internet. It was through play that we learned to socialize, to converse and to engage with others, and it was through play that we learned responsibility, self-regulation, and negotiation. Most importantly, I believe that through play, we learned to problem solve by thinking outside the box and we learned to enjoy life. I would hope opportunities to play would be returned to today’s children, so that they too may learn to enjoy life.
Play, an essential component of life for both children and adults, is self-initiated activities that are designed for amusement, but have a direct influence on psychosocial and biosocial development and can help reduce the symptoms of stress. Play is living in the moment, free of self-consciousness, and totally engaged in the process. Adults and children alike need opportunities for expression and engagement, with total enjoyment.
