My Connection to Play

When I think back on my childhood play time, I think of puzzles, erector sets, Etch-N-Sketch, Light Bright, making potholders, painting and drawing.  When I asked my mother what she remembered about my play time, she said I was always creating.  I laughed becuase I enjoy creating as an adult.  I remember that my mom provided whatever supplies and time I needed to be creative.  Interestingly, I do not remember a lot of other children.  Much of my play time at the age of 4 and 5 was alone .  I was comfortable and happy playing alone.

In my day, the natural desire to learn, explore, and create did not compete with the 24 hour cartoon channels and electronic games that children have today. Joan Almon's talks about the school counselor in Virginia who said that her first grade students did not understand the word "imagination" (Almon, 2002).  So, I asked my 16 year old son what imagination was, and he said he didn't know.  Just like the counselor, I was surprised. However, I explained that he did know because he uses his imagination when he creates his music lyrics.  Play is essential to the healthy social, emotional, physical, and cognitive development of children, and I do believe there will be unintended consequences of insufficient play which this generation of children.  However, I still believe that children are playing in some form. We need to accept that play looks different today, while still encouraging good ole fashion dramatic play and fantasy play.  For example, my oldest son my not have engaged in much fantasy play, but he plays basketball for at least 30 minutes, lifts weights, is conscious about what he eats, and he creates with his mind when writing musical lyrics. 

This generation of children may not know the word "imagination", but I believe they are playing and creating in a way that the adult perspective cannot see. I still hope early childhood advocates will prevail in convincing school board members and politicians to build in more time for play during the school day.  They will not make this change unless we advocate for it.  With regards to my own play time, I have to work on that.  I work, study, work, study, volunteer, study.  I am not setting a good example for my children.  That will change starting today.

Reference
Almon, K. (2002). The vital role of play in early childhood education. Gateways, 43. Retrieved from http://www.waldorfresearchinstitute.org/pdf/BAPlayAlmon.pdf

Meaningful Relationships

Refer to my Relationship Reflection section on the far right side of my blog for my most important relationships.  Over the past three years, I have developed more relationships outside of my family. One of those new relationships is with a group called the YMCA Urban Mission. This group of people humbles me with what they do.  They help urban children, but they also help society's "throw away" children (minority children who are uneducated and incarcerated).  I share the same values with this group, and our relationship is reciprocal.  My insights from this group  - humility and authenticity. This group is helping me emerge out of a corporate environment where the values are very different.