My connection to play

My Connections to Play

“For a small child there is no division between playing and learning; between the things he or she does ‘just for fun’ and things that are ‘educational.’ The child learns while living and any part of living that is enjoyable is also play.” ~

           Penelope Leach (psychologist, author)

Play for young children is not recreation activity,…It is not leisure-time activity nor escape activity.  Play is thinking time for young children.  It is language time. Problem-solving time.  It is memory time, planning time, investigating time.  It is organization-of ideas time, when the young child uses his mind and body and his social skills and all his powers in response to the stimuli he has met.”

          James L. Hymes, Jr., child development specialist, author

When children engage in blocks play, they are developing their motor skills along with their hand-eye coordination, creative thinking, social and language skills.

 

 

 

Play dough is a great way for children to strengthen their fine motor skills.  As they play, they are developing their hand muscles making pencil and scissor control stronger. Also it’s an excellent tool for children to express their imagination and creativity quality.

 

 

Puzzles allows children to use their hand muscles, hand eye coordination, motor skills, as well as building up their confidence.   

 

My mother was the first person to ever encourage play as a daily routine when I was young.  In my infant/toddler, we played games like peek-a-boo and this little piggy. When I reached the preschool years my play became more detailed related.  Pretend play was a major role for me. I loved to dress-up in my mother’s clothes and try to walk around in her shoes.  My preschool teacher was another person that supported my play development.  She always had exciting props setup in the Dramatic Play area.  On a weekly basis the area would be transformed into a many fun themes. One time it’s was Doctor’s office with Lab coats and doctors kits for us to explore. Another time it was a restaurant with menus, table clothes, chef outfit, and also money to pay for the food.

 

I feel that play is different from the play in which I engaged as a child.  Now a day, technology plays a very important role in play.  Running, jumping and throwing are being replaced by game dives. Technology on the other hand can actual is beneficial. Children with learning difficulties find IPod and IPad to be very helpful with their learning. 

My thoughts regarding the role of play throughout my life is that it allowed me to express myself, socailize, and beimg confident in me.