My Connections to Play

“Play is children’s work.  Through toys, games, role plays, and imaginative use of equipment and materials, children develop physically, intellectually, linguistically, emotionally, and socially”

-- Miquela Rivera

“It is through play that children at a very early age engage and interact in the world around them. Play allows children to create and explore a world they can master, conquering their fears while practicing adult roles, sometimes in conjunction with other children or adult caregivers” 

-- Pediatrics

During my childhood, play mostly took place in the outdoor.  We played kite, top spinning (as shown in the above picture), hopscotch, etc. in groups at the backyard of our houses.  There were so much fun in playing these games, as we competed with one another in teams or in solo.  Every after school in the evening time, we rushed to our favorite spot to meet with our peers and started to play our games.  No adults interfered us, we were self-directed, establishing our rules of game.  We changed our ways of playing the games according to our tastes and preferences.  I should say that play enlivened my childhood, developed my social and intellectual competence, empathy, creativity, and motor skills.

Play today is so much different from the play in my childhood time.  Nowadays, the play is so passive, enclosed with screens (computer, ipad, cell phone), done indoor, as well as no much creativity and interaction with others.   I just hope that our young ones should be given more time to play in outdoor, away from the screens, play with peers, more group activity, be active mentally, emotionally, and physically.  They should involve in games that stimulate their creativity and peer cooperation. 

Play is crucial not only to childhood, as well to adulthood.  Play brings relaxation, joy, happiness, stimulates imagination, innovation, empathy, and reduces aggression and impulsive actions to young and old.  Play affects our quality of life; with it, we develop, without it, we decline.