My Connections to Play

My Connections with Play

Quotes about Play-
 

“The most effective kind of education is that a child should play amongst lovely things.” ~ Plato (Greek philosopher)

“Play builds the kind of free-and-easy, try-it-out, do-it-yourself character that our future needs.” ~ James L. Hymes Jr. (child development specialist, author)

“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)

Here are a few pictures demonstrating young children in play

Throughout my life, I can't remember a time where any of my teachers or parents did not support play when I was younger. As far as I can remember my teachers always set aside time for us to grow and just be kids. These are the times I remember the most from preschool and elementary school. I was at a really fun preschool, where they taught us the basics as well as alot of life activities such as swimming, playing sports, and hide and seek.  It was the YMCA program, in NY. My parents also supported me in every sport that I played in. I have played softball, volleyball and basketball. But I can remember when I was just a young kid where I played softball with my father pitch and catch. He has made life playful in a sense because I can remember always having fun, learning and striving to do my best at an early age.

Play is very different today from what what it was when I was a child. Yes, we had nintendo and other electronics, but we always were playing together with toys and going outside to make snowman or snowangels or even just sitting playing with blocks with one another. Now children at a very young age are engaged in this electronic world of IPADS, IPODS, and XBOX. Children even at the age of 4 and 5 are playing inside on these things rather than playing outside in the sandbox. For example, I own a diner and while they were waiting for their food, they were playing a racing game on their IPAD, they never ask for the stack of coloring books that I have under the counter. Just strange how some families occupy their young children. I really hope as an advocate and professional that I can encourage children to get out there more and more and learn and experience with other children their age. Even as an adult I still am playing in a softball and volleyball league. This was my type of play when I was a young child and it is to this day. It has made me who I am as an individual, athlete, coach, and young professional.