My Connections to Play

Quotes about play

“Play is hard to maintain as you get older. You get less playful. You shouldn’t, of course”.

Richard Feynman

American physicist

1918–1988

“We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing.”

George Bernard Shaw

Play was a huge part of my memories from childhood.  I remember pretending to play school, house and dress up.  I had a love for Barbie dolls and blocks, which I played with a lot.  Some of my play was inside but a lot was outside with bikes, skip-it, chalk, jump ropes and with neighborhood friends.  I remember being told to “stay outside and find something to play with or come inside and sit in my room and do nothing” by both my parents.  Many times we went to Rock Creek Park, the playground, the beach which didn’t allow for lots of TV time.  I did not grow up with game systems which I know had a huge part in the development of my imagination.  All of our play senarioes were created by us, without support from the TV or games. 

 

  

 

Today there is little play.  TV and games have taken over children imagination.  Children are not creative thinkers.  Children come home and watch TV or play games instead of going outside to play.  I have noticed children do not know how to pretend or work with others in play situations. 

I hope that teachers and families learn the importance of play.  I hope school administrators learn the value of play and promote play as an active tool for learning instead of pushing for “rigor”.  Once families and schools are on board I hope children will become comfortable pretending, playing, and using their imagination to their fullest.