My Connections To Play

Hi Everyone!

This week in class, we have been learning about the importance of "play". A s I continue to broaden my knowledge on developmentally appropriate learning practices for children, I am forced to consider how important play was in my own upbringing. 

Being an only child and grandchild, I often found very creative ways to play and entertain myself. My mother and grandparents encouraged and fostered my imaginative nature, and this has lead me to be the creative thinker and artist that I am today. One of my favorite things to play with was doll babies. Through playing with my dolls, I developed a particular nature when it comes to the care and keeping of others. To my dolls I was a mother or teacher, or sometimes I would develop complicated stories for them to participate in.  I was also a fan of dress up, using my imagination to turn anything into a costume to act out a story, which further  developed my social and communication skills. Lastly, these may not be considered toys, but they have and still are an integral part of my life.....books. Being an avid reader has positively impacted my development exponentially. Through reading, I developed an active imagination, a soaring vocabulary and a knack for problem solving.

While I am not that old, play today is very different from the play of my years. I think that today's type of play is far more technology driven. There are alot of benefits for utilizing technology in play for today's child. However, I do feel that moderation is key. After all too much of a good thing can become an issue. As I leave you to think about the important role played in your life, ponder the following quotes on the benefits of play time!

“Education is a natural process carried out by the child and is not acquired by listening to words but by experiences in the environment.”

~Maria Montessori

“I like nonsense, it wakes up the brain cells. Fantasy is a necessary ingredient in living.”
― Dr. Seuss