Fred Rogers
"The child amidst his baubles is learning the action of light, motion, gravity, muscular force…"
Ralph Waldo Emerson
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| Fisher Price "Little People" |
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| Making Mud Pies |
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| Necessary Tools- Flowers, Mud, Leaves, Water, Pan, Bowl |
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| Tire Swing |
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| Monkey Bars for Memaw's Little Monkey |
These are a few of my younger essential play things...
Supporters of Play and the Role of Play in my childhood
People supported my play as a young child by teaching me how to swing, and giving me the tools to discover things such as books, mud, clay, flour, etc. They also took me to a toy store and even if I didn't get anything I got to see what I would like to have or throw a fit for what I wanted. The used my dolls like puppets and talked to me with them. I invited friends over and we played dress up or barbie dolls together. With the doll houses I played out what I saw or wanted to see sometimes alone, and sometimes with a friend. I drew pictures with chalk on a chalk board and my family pretended to buy them. I would sing and dance in front of my family and they clapped and laughed, even said I might be on Broadway one day. My family encouraged me to be outside and play, and to go play with my toys. People read to me and showed me how to hold a book. They allowed me to try and read to them as strange as the story might have been. I was encouraged to read to my little sister and tell her bed time stories. (She loved Monster Stories). My grandfather bounced a ball with me on the sidewalk outside, and collected pine cones with me to decorate. My dad bought me monkey bars to keep me off the back of the couch and the top of the swing set. My mom gave me flour to stir in with whatever I could find outside and kitchen soup to wash my dishes off. Finding a play space of my own was never hard it was almost anywhere I wanted to play. Maybe in the living room floor under a homemade dining room chair and bed sheet tent. There I could tell stories, have a campfire, play dolls, have a puppet show, or just hide from the world like it didn't exist.
Play today, has it changed?
Play today is just not the same, as I remember it. Today play does not involve the great outdoors as it did. Children still have bikes, skateboards, and scooters, but the time spent on them is very little. The technology world as emerged into a play giant. More like, monster! Children today to do not seem to do the exploring that I did. Children's lives are too hurried with all the extracurricular activities they are involved in, some of which are of their parents choosing not theirs. Some places are no longer safe outdoors for child play. Many toys today involve violence and not just toy guns and play swords. There are toys today that talk for children. That leaves little to the imagination. Dolls, action, figures, and even kitchen sets. Children need to me allowed to use their imagination. They should be allowed to make the sound of a telephone, a car horn, a crying baby, and cars or trains. It is my hope that children will be allowed to play and discover things are their own in the future. The dirt in their hands, the sand between their toes, the flowers on the bushes, the wind in their hair, the sounds that things make from their own perspective, and what they story in a book is about.
The Role of Play Throughout My Life
In my life I have always played. Play has made me who I am today. I have been allowed to talk with people, not sit in front of a TV or DVD player. I've had conversations with many people, and toys to vent or express myself. "You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation." - Plato We had conversations in the car and at the dinner table. Sometimes even while watching TV. I was allowed to discover things on my own, get dirty, fall down and get hurt, and get back up and keep going. It's through play that I grew stronger and more aware of myself. I was able to gain self esteem and reasons to be proud of myself. Through playing teacher with my toys, dolls, grandparents, and sister as students I was encouraged and told you would make a great teacher. I was also encouraged to be whatever I wanted to be. On my electric ride on Fire Truck I would make a great fireman. The possibilities were endless. By being allowed to play and encouraged to play it made me a stronger more independent person. I could do anything I set my mind to and I was having fun. My grandmother's favorite saying was, "if you're not having fun, what's the point in keeping doing it". It's a good point. Into adulthood I had to have fun. Working with friends throughout college was fun, going on dates, having friends over. There was never a dull moment. Toys themselves are different as adults, but it's still relaxing to pick up a new box of crayons and put them to use. It's not to bad to share childhood experiences as adults either. To reminisce about things from childhood and sometimes relive some of them. Maybe Smurfs on a wedding cake.
