Here are a few quotes about play that represents my life as a child.
Stay a child while you can be a child. STEPHEN SONDHEIM, Into the Woods
"Play gives children a chance to practice what they are learning." Fred Rogers
"Children learn as they play. Most importantly, in play children learn how to learn."
O. Fred Donaldson, American Martial Arts Master
Here are a few of the toys that I played with as a child. The one that meant the most to me was the Family Tree House. The toys that I picked represents the childhood that I had before my mother passed away. Seeing the Family Tree House was very emotional for me because I remember sitting on the floor playing with my tree house while my mother was sewing at the table. I would play with this toy for hours. Beyond the toys represented below I used to love completing puzzles, paint by the numbers and making articles with the hook latch kits.
I was the only child so my play at home was supported by my mother. She would join me and play with me for hours. That was our bonding time. We would talk and enjoy each other company. She never stopped me from expressing myself and she encourage my creativity. I would copy her doing craft activities. She would hang my projects on the wall and show everybody that came by my work.
Play today is different than my play was when I was a child. I believe that many children today do not know how to play. Their play is based on their life experiences and unfortunately they play games that imitate a negative view of life. I have had children pretend they were shot and died. I find that some children view police as negative people. Another game that I witnessed my students playing is getting "locked up". They think it is common for people to be locked up. I find that to be disturbing. I have to admit it is hard explaining to the children that cops are suppose to be the good people and that going to jail is not fun. The video games are too violent and realistic. When I was younger our video games were Donkey Kong and Ms. PacMan, games that involved skills and concentration and was not violent. Some children mistake video games as real life activities. When I was a child our play was innocent and for pure enjoyment. I would love for the children today to enjoy being a carefree child, enjoying life to its fullest and playing wholeheartedly in an environment that protected them.
