My Connections to Play

I am now 38 years old. I remember when I played outside with my sisters and our Saturday night board games. Things are so different now and my own children are not exposed to the form of play that I was exposed to. When I think about play this quote by Mr. Rogers really sums up what play and learning is all about; "Play gives children a chance to practice what they are learning…They have to play with what they know to be true in order to find out more, and then they can use what they learn in new forms of play.” ~ Fred Rogers (Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood).

I am also very fond of this quote as well;

“Play is the highest expression of human development in childhood, for it alone is the free expression of what is in a child’s soul.” Friedrich Froebel (founder of the concept of kindergarten)

Over the last 20 years the way that children play and learn has changed tremendously. Children are more interested in playstations,  xbox360,  face-book and anything computer related. When i was younger we used more our imagination through outside play and board games, drawing and family days and vacations. Parents were more involved in their children and gave them that family time together.  My outside time involved bike riding, hiking and many days at the park and in the mountains. It is terrible now to think a child can not play due to the fact that playing outside is more dangerous.

 

One thing I have learned as i got older is that no matter how old you are it is a positive thing to continue to play. It may look a little different to an older person but it serves the same purpose.