“My Connections to Play”

“Play keeps us vital and alive. It gives us an enthusiasm for life that is irreplaceable. Without it, life just doesn’t taste good” Lucia Capocchione

At the age of 4 or 5 years old, my favorite toy was a 3 foot tall baby doll.  My mother bought me extra clothes and shoes for my doll and I really enjoyed taking care of her.  I can remember naming her Sally Sue; I think I still remember her name because in my young mind she was my baby.   Whenever we would go to town, I would always take Sally Sue along with me and even make sure her seat belt was attached.  Sally Sue had long, shiny, black hair, which I would brush into a pony tail.  This is the only doll I can remember having, because she lasted a couple of years.  Along with the doll, I would also receive puzzles from my mother.  I would sit there working until the right pieces fit and I can remember the puzzles being in the form of a Disney character.   Sometimes she would sit next to me and motivate me by saying, “you can do it” “that’s my girl.”

                                                        

Whenever I would go outside to play, my favorite game would be pretending to be an adult and having my own home.  I can remember my friends and I building a 'house' using cardboard boxes.  We would pretend cooking, sewing, and going to work; there were many memories in that house.  To this day, whenever my friends and I are together, we talk about the times we shared and the fun we had in our cardboard house. As I matured and became wiser, I would go places with my best friend and her mother and sometimes spend the weekend with her on their farm.  We would feed the animals: corn hulls to the cows and grain to the chickens.  My favorite past time was riding with the other kids in a wagon being pulled by a tractor.  I once visited when it had just snowed and after making a snowman and making snow angles, we kids all had a snow ball fight.  It was a cold, beautiful day.   

Children need the freedom and time to play.  Play is not a luxury.  Play is a necessity.  ~Kay Redfield Jamison  

                                                           

I believe that if children today could experience just a little of what I did as a child, such as playing outside, experiencing new things, and most importantly having adults in my life who motivated me to do better, they would be affected in a positive way.  Today, children want expensive things, like Iphones, x-boxes, expensive sneakers and clothes.  Of course I wanted nicer things as a young child, but I didn't get them and life went on.  It seems as though it is hard for children to find pleasure in simple things and I don't think it's because parents have full time job, which causes them to sacrifice time raising their children. Both my parents worked full time, but they set rules for us to follow and there were consequences if we disobeyed them.  We played games, talked, and had chores to do; my parents made sure we connected.  It is ironic and sad that while parents work long hours to provide the best for their families, they are losing that vital connection with their children.  In school, you will find children going out to play/exercise, as well as having the time set aside to study.  Children need to spend more time developing social skills in face-to-face interactions, instead of spending all-nighters playing games or putting their personal information on the computer.  But, until the adult in the household set consistent guidelines, the child will do what he or she wants to and that is usually not in their best interest.

Children make you want to start life over.  ~Muhammad Ali