My Connection to Play

Just play. Have fun. Enjoy the game –Michael Jordan

This is the real secret of life- to be completely engaged with what you are doing in the here and now. And instead of calling it work, realize it is play. –Alan Wilson Watts

These quotes speak of my childhood. As a child, play was my life. It was what I did all day. It was fun and I enjoyed doing it. My siblings and I are very close in age. There are 4 years between the 3 of us. We were always playing with each other, making up games, playing board games, running around, and pretending. Our job was to play.

 Our parents encouraged play every day. I remember being outside for hours on end. Our parents played with us. They encouraged us to use our imagination. They provided us places inside and outside of the house to play. Our backyard was the place to play. All our neighborhood friends would always play in our yard. We didn’t need much to have fun. 
We would turn our yard into all kinds of adventures- oceans, doctor’s office, school, ice cream shop, stores, or a race track to name a few.  My sister and I would bring our cabbage patch dolls to join in the fun. Our dolls were our children, students, customers, robbers or princes. Whatever our heart desired at the moment.

Today’s play is much different than my own that I experience. I see less children playing outside. I see and hear more of children playing video games, watching television, or using some other electronic devices. Many of these electronic devices are learning centered. I see fewer children having the freedom to just play and enjoy.

The role of play in my childhood help shaped the person that I am today. As an adult, my career of education was found through playing with my dolls and pretending I had a classroom.  Play allowed me to learn how to work others, play fairly, treat others with respect, and how to handle stressful situations. I use all these skills in my daily life as an adult. Play is essential in shaping adults. We, as adults, must value and protect the act of playing for children. Play is critical to building successful adults.