"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.
Katy,
ReplyDeleteI truly enjoyed reading about your experience with play during your childhood. I would have loved to have grown up at the lake and spent all of that time soaking up the sun. I completely agree with you about the toys that children play with today. I tried to steer my daughter's grandparents in the way of certain toys or play items that I knew would benefit her. I wish my daughter had the opportunity to play outside more, but it's almost impossible with the apartment complex where we live. Also, your quotes about play were spot on. Play is a child's work.
Tiffany B.
I think what it all comes down to is technology. When we were growing up, much of the technology that children have today was not available. We were forced to entertain ourselves...and that meant playing with what we had. The good old outdoors! There is so much to be said for the creativity and wonder of nature. Even with your drawing, it was done by you. Today, children want to color a picture already drawn for them. They have no idea what to do with a blank piece of paper. Children are losing out on creativity and imagination because of new technology.
ReplyDeleteKaty great blog post on Connections to Play. It must have be great to spend the hold summer at the lake with your family. Katy I guess working with children daily we still have to have the kid in us.
ReplyDeleteKaty,
ReplyDeleteWith the exception of being near the water, my childhood was spent imagining outdoors. I used to like to lay in the yard and imagine clouds passing by as various animals and objects. I loved to play on our swingset and even today, I love to swing when I go to a park. I, too, am sad for today's generation. Too little creativity is experienced, and even during free-play, children want to reinact something they've seen on a movie or TV show. I wish our world was not so commercial, and could go back to "the good old days." Thanks for sharing. I am anxious for summer to come so I can get to the lake!
Katy, I enjoyed your post. You childhood seemed like a lot of fun. I used to swim a lot as well but my experiences were at public pools. The toys that children have today does not challenge them to use their imagination. I didn't rely on toys as a child because we were always outside playing. We had Atari but we still spent much of our time outside. I teach the school age children in my care the simple games we played as children. You will be surprised to see how much joy they have just from playing tag, kick ball or four-square.
ReplyDeleteKeep up the great post, I enjoy reading them.