- "Play is our brain's favorite way of learning."
by Diane Ackerman
- "Play gives children a chance to practice what they are learning."
by Fred Rogers
Pictures of Play Items:
As a kid I loved G.I. Joe action figures.
Toy cars was another thing I loved to have as a kid. I could take them with me anywhere I went and I also had the race tracks to go with them. Brings back great memories lol!!!!! I know I'm such a kid at heart now as well.
Supporters of Play and how it differs from when I was growing up:
People supported play tremendously during my times of growing up because technology was not a huge factor. Kids went outside to play all of the time. It seems like back when I was young parents loved for their children to run and play but had to yell for their children to come inside, now parents yell for their children to go outside to play to get them off the video games. Teachers even supported play and during school time there was more recess time even in middle and high school. Now all of that is either being short changed or not happening at all. Things have change big time when it comes to play and I don't feel like children are getting the necessary play time they need to exercise their brains. Health issues are even coming up a lot more now because children are not "Playing" anymore. Everything is about reading, writing, and math and less on how to explore the three in play.
Growing up my friends and I couldn't wait until we got home to go outside and play. We didn't have much TV or video games so going outside and starting up games and activities was what we look forward to the most. Now and days children do not like going outside to experience the weather unless they can take some type of electronic device with them. Encouraging children to go outside and develope their gross motor skills is an important milestone for them.
ReplyDeleteI could appreciate my mother telling me to go outside and play. There was valuable learning that occured because my friends and I used various things to create what we didn't have. Not only did we have fun, but we exhibited a level of creativity without stress.We did not have a melt down because our parents couldn't afford to buy us certain toys from the store...we simply found creative ways to make our own fun. We used a milk crate as a basket ball net. We played jump rope and hopscotch in the street. Guess what? These are all games that allowed us to exercise our bodies and our brains. Childhood obesity is more prevelant today because children do not engage in enough physical activity, but will thrive off of spending endless hours on computers playing games. We need to get back to the basics and comprehend the true value of good old fashion play!!!
ReplyDeleteUgh my ppost just got delted... boohoo...
ReplyDeleteHaha, Carlos it seems you were a good ol fashined boy, who played with boy toys. I had a conversation last night with a co-worker of mine a teacher at my school, who complained about a student who was acting 'too girly' she said. He didnt like cars but liked dolls and the colors pink and purple. He insisted actually that those 2 colors were the only colors he would draw and color with.
What is your take on this? Do you believe in gender roles, and if so, how would you encourage a child one way or the other?
I told her that he is making a choice to be that way, and if he likes it, then let him be the way he wants! If he decides later on in life that he wants to be less girly, then he will make that change accordingly, as society will let him know about these things too in a subtle way.
And yes I also have many fond memories of exploring my backyard all day and all night... I hope my future children will adopt to having this same mentality, where exploration is the key!