My Connections to Play

"Play is often talked about as if it were a relief from serious learning. 

But for children, play is serious learning"

- Mr Rogers

"Children need the freedom and time to play. 

Play is not a luxury.

Play is a necessity."

- Kay Redfield Jamison

As a little girl I got one of these for Christmas at a young age and I absolutely loved her. I would play Mommy for hours.

Cabbage Patch Kids were a huge craze when I was growing up and we had to go to the shop and formally adopt one.

Something we did very often would be to draw a tennis court on the road infront of the house and play tennis games. 

We grew up with a swimming pool and would spend all summer playing different games in the swimming pool with our cousins and friends.


I grew up in a very playful house, a lot of laughs and a lot of games.  My Dad being a sportsman always had some kind of physical game or big competition going with the kids.  He would engage in hours of playing with us and when I think back he really enjoyed it.  We learnt skills and rules through different games.  40 years later he is playing games with my 3 sons - getting down to their level and engaging with what is important to them and connecting on their level.
My grandmother used to play boardgames with me and bake with me.  She taught me to play cards and different boardgames, we would play and laugh and drink tea together - those memories are yet to fade.  Children want to feel loved and accepted, special and valued - through playing with children adults can share moments on their level and get a better understanding of them. 

Although the world is a faster and more technical place than it was when I was young - essentially play that was present then is still present now.  Many of the games that we played children still play now.  The big problem is that children are often so over stimulated by electronics and television that they don't play.  When these stimuli are taken away children are left to their own devices and imagination and have to room to play again.

Play is an essential part of childhood.  Through play children can model, express and understand the the world around them.  They acquire social skills while playing with others as well as teaching each other different things about the world.  Play is a natural way of learning that is on a child's developmental level and makes sense.  As adults we still play and should.  Sports, board games and playing with children even, these are all positive outlets and important part of our lives.