"Play is often talked about as if it were a relief from serious learning. But for children, play IS serious learning. Play is really the work of childhood". Fred Rogers
"It took me four years to paint like Raphael, but a lifetime to paint like a child."
Pablo Picasso
Growing up, we had a family cabin on a beautiful lake in Northern Minnesota. That's me in the striped swimming suit, my summer uniform. When I got dressed in the morning, I put on my swimming suit and took it off at night only to put on my pajamas. I loved the water and spending long summer days outside. We spent the whole summer at the lake. We swam, we sailed, we fished, we skied, and sometimes we even fell asleep on the dock watching northern lights. The great outdoors was essential to my play as a young child.
In Minnesota, if you don't like winter, winter will wear on you pretty fast. I added this picture that I drew to illustrate another essential play element for me, art. I cannot remember a day without doodling something. I spent hours as a child drawing, cutting, painting, and coloring.
I grew up in a big family. As children, we were given lots of time and lots of space to play. My parents loved the outdoors and provided wonderful places to live that were very conducive to play. Woods, lakes, parks, and big yards were always available to me. When I wasn't outdoors, I kept myself busy indoors with art and books. There was always something to read in our house and we had easy access to art supplies as well.
When I look at all of the toys available to children today, I actually feel sad for them. So many of the things parents and grandparents buy for small children are very popular but have very limited playability. Children seem to have so much that they don't know where to start. Toys often play for children while children are expected to be entertained. There is very little room for creativity in much of what is being mass produced for children today. My siblings and I would rake up grass clippings and make elaborate homes out of them. We would play with our "structure" for days. We were required to use our imagination to see the fireplace, the kitchen, and the bedrooms in those grass clippings and we did. I spent my days largely unsupervised and outdoors. Today neighborhood parks are empty as children find entertainment at home too engrossing to step outside.
I have a very playful spirit. I still find great joy in being outdoors or drawing something with a brand new box of crayons. Play continues to be a great stress reliever and a wonderful way to connect to children and the adults in my life. I love to laugh and be silly. I cannot imagine a day without play. I make sure to get it in. If I don't, I find myself misbehaving like a little kid.
