Pausing to listen to an airplane in the sky, stooping to watch a ladybug on a plant, sitting on a rock to watch the waves crash over the quayside—children have their own agendas and timescales. As they find out more about their world and their place in it; they work hard not to let adults hurry them. We need to hear their voices.
Cathy Nutbrown
Contemporary British educational theorist
Creative people are curious, flexible, persistent, and independent with a tremendous spirit of adventure and a love of play.
Henri Matisse
French painter
1869–1954
http://www.thestrong.org/about-play/play-quotes
I was happy if I had a bucket, shovel, dirt, and water.
My parents supported play by allowing me to play with friends in my neighborhood. The only requirement that they had was to know where I was. My Grandma supported my play by playing games with me. I always got bored easily and she would play all kinds of card and board games with me.
I feel play has changed over the years. When I was growing up, I played outside all the time. I played with friends in the yard, in my neighborhood, and in the woods. Play today is usually inside or outside and more in the yard. I wish that children today could play and be free to explore the outside community like I did as a child. Unfortunately, I feel there are too many bad things now to let children explore the community like they used to.
I played for hours in water, mud, digging holes in the woods, swinging on vines from trees, and climbing in trees growing up. I spent time going on trails and exploring at the power plant. I wish my daughter could have the carefree play experiences I had. I feel as parents it is not safe to let children wonder out of our sight anymore. Monitored play times is the norm now.
Crystal,
ReplyDeleteYour post showed me how you desire a more carefree environment for your child and other children to play in. It is true that the world is no longer wonderful as it once was. So many people are lurking to see what things they can do to destroy your life. Please understand I know not everyone is looking to harm our families, but you cannot trust too many individuals these days. I know some parents are afraid to let their children out of their sight, and truthfully speaking, you cannot. I also wish children could explore freely as we did long ago. Going into the woods, climbing trees, and getting into mischief would not be fun if the parents have to watch. In essences, children are not free to be children; at the center I work for, they do not allow children to climb. They say they do not want the child to get hurt; but when I was a child, we climbed trees and fences until we fell down, or got hurt. It was not serious, but it made us tuff; today, children are not tuff, they a soft and get sick and hurt easily. I feel this is because, they are not allowed to play in certain areas and many of the exploration and areas we played in as a child made us stronger and ready to live life to the fullest. Your post provided more insight into safety measures for our children.
Thanks,
Lah-Lah Devine
Crystal board games can be very fun and exciting. I have to agree that in some communities it is not safe for children to play outside. Many of them have to stay on the porch or inside the yard where they can be seen. Children should be allowed to explore but sad to say that may not always be possible. I can recall one time hearing about two teachers taking the children on a nature walk. The kids were very exited and interested in what was going to happen while on the nature walk. The nature walk did not last very long because of a fight that broke out between two adults so the teachers had to scurry them quickly back to the daycare. How are children going to learn to explore if they cant trust walking a around the block without something happening. No matter what there are many opportunities for play at times we may need to be creative.
ReplyDeleteCrystal, love the quotes about airplane that take me back when was children living in Rockford Illinois and I can see the plane above by head think I could touch plane if I was a lot taller. I also agree that in some communities it not safe for children to play. I enjoy reading your blog thank you sharing
ReplyDeleteYour quote about pausing to hear the plane go over threw me back to laying on a blanket in the backyard, skin hot from the sun, hair in my face as I read a book. Play is no longer like it was but we need to include as much outdoor play and play experiences as possible. I have seen the differences in the world and in my own home; children that have come for play dates have remarked how lucky my kiddo is because he has a rock collection or a pile of twigs from a walk we went on the day before and they wish they could do that. It will never be the way that it was for us growing up but we will give them great memories too even if it means missing out on other things so they can be outside.
ReplyDeleteGreat post! There is so much violence in the neighborhoods and world today that parents are afraid to let their children out of their site to play. There are many communities that are unsafe because of the violence or environmental dangers. Many children cannot safely play outdoors unless they are closely supervised and protected by an adult. I believe that all play is important, but outdoors play is very important.
ReplyDelete