My Connections to Play

Play for me was a way to adventure into this world!  I had many supports through my playing years especially my mother.  I remember my mother letting me pull out the pots, pans and mixing bowls to bang around or pretend I was cooking in the kitchen.   She also let me lead and show her what I wanted to play with for instance, if one day I wanted to pretend I was a teacher she was always a wonderful student or patient if I was playing doctor.  Play was important part of my childhood in my family and I was blessed to have parents that joined in and let me investigate the world!

"Play energizes and enlivens us. It eases our burdens.  It renews our natural sense of optimism and opens us up to new possibilities."
                                                                                                        - Stuart Brown, MD

"Children need the freedom and time to play.  Play is not a luxury.  Play is a necessity."
                                                                                                        - Kay Radfield Jamison

I loved imaginary play and wearing my mothers clothes and accessories.  

My teddy bear was a big part of play during my younger years

I feel that play today is different from play when I was younger because I feel that families do not give children the freedom to explore the outside world like I did.  Playing outside was a necessity for me and I loved feeling the wind and smelling of the fresh air around me as a child.  I feel that technology plays a role for young children which has differed since I was young. Technology is important to us but children need to explore and discover with hands-on materials not just searching the internet.  It is my hope for young children to adventure in outside play and explore the natural beauties around them.  It is also my hope that children will discover new materials or items by touching and feeling them.  For example, if children are interested in trees it is my hope that they will want to go outside and touch and feel the tree to learn about it and not just research it on the internet.  

I was taught many life lessons through play as a young child.  I feel that I would not have the love of cooking if it was not for my mother letting me destroy her kitchen  to explore through play.  I also believe that because I had a positive experience with play during childhood that is a reason I want to be a teacher.  I want to share my passion of play with my students and teach them life lessons.