My Connections to Play



Pictures of essential play items for my younger self:


         

       



Quotes that I feel summarize what play represented for me in childhood:

 




I feel that when I was growing up, our teachers and the grown-up in my life supported and encouraged our play. For instance, the curriculum in Early Childhood was mainly focused on providing children with “Natural play experience”, Wardle (n.d.).There was no rush for fostering academic studies, rather than allowing us to explore early literacy skills and numbers through play, and instilling phonological awareness through rhymes and music. I have vivid memories of myself as a young child playing and interacting with my teacher, as she took an active role in our play rather than observing only our play and learning process. The same was with my parents that encouraged us to play with our friends and played with us mainly outdoors.



In my opinion, there is a huge gap between the role of play during my childhood, in comparison to the role of play in early childhood currently. Teachers, presently are more engaged in introducing children with letters and numbers at a young age, rather than focusing on exploring and engaging playfully with rhymes that will promote early literacy skills. In addition, the length of time that teachers allow opportunities for a free choice of play and interaction with the learning environment and other children, decreases.



I believe that play is essential in the lives of young children and their families. Mutual interaction promotes bond, attachment, and provides parents with the opportunity to get to know their children in a deeper manner Ginsberg (2007), It introduces parents with their children’s strengths and challenges, their passion, and their struggles, Ginsberg (2007). I feel that the joy of play is a life long skill people should comply with and practice. I can share from my personal experience that we, as a family enjoy play as it connects us together and brings delight and happiness as we take time off from our daily routine and hectic lives.


References:

Ginsberg, k. (2007), the importance of play in promoting healthy development and maintaining strong parent-child bond. Pediatrics, 119(1), 182-191. Retrieved from:

https://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/119/1/182

The importance of play in promoting healthy child development and maintaining strong parent-child bonds. 119,1 by Kenneth R. Ginsburg. Copyright 2007 by the American Academy of Pediatrics. Used with permission of the American Academy of Pediatrics Via the copyright clearance center.

Wardle, F. (n.d.). Play as curriculum, Retrieved August 1. 2010 from:

http://www.earlychildhoodnews.com/earlychildhood/article_view.aspx?ArticleID=127

Comments

  1. HicksECEMay 29, 2020 at 7:29 PM

    Hello Ilana:
    I am so thrilled over all the exciting postings relating to play. It is so nice. You did a fantastic job!
    Katrina

    ReplyDelete
  2. Julia NuqulMay 30, 2020 at 1:46 AM

    Hi Ilana,
    It is great to see another person who grew up with mud puddles and sticks for toys- It was a wonderful way to grow up with so much room for the imagination. I do see a disturbing trend in the last 20 years for educators to focus more and more on forcing children into academic learning earlier and earlier despite the research that shows this is not productive. This new generation of parents is starting to understand the importance of play and nature in healthy development.

    ReplyDelete
  3. AriSMay 31, 2020 at 11:32 AM

    Your post is absolutely beautiful. Thanks so much for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Jessica StallingsMay 31, 2020 at 6:29 PM

    Hi! I completely agree with you that teachers have had to shift their focus from encouraging learning through play to more "academic" learning. So much focus is put on literacy and math skills. We are forgetting those important skills are that youngest learners need. I hope that we will begin to see changes as more educators realize the importance of play.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Miranda EdnesomeMay 31, 2020 at 7:09 PM

    I enjoyed reading your post. I can relate when I was growing up natural play experience was important and necessary. I do see more in the classroom today more emphasis on academic learning than natural play.

    ReplyDelete

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