Play was
simply being free when I was younger and today.
Rules when playing were defined with those I played with or my own rules
when playing alone. I really enjoyed
dolls and Barbie’s once I got older. I spent hours playing with my dream house and
RV. I spent a lot of time outdoors,
riding bikes, being imaginative, and playing games. I was allowed the freedom to create play by
parents and they would also play with me.
They enrolled me in sports and swimming classes to keep me active.
Nikki's younger days of play............
This pretty much sums up why play is much different now then when I was a kiddo.....
Play has changed today with our new generation. I moved to Arizona a couple of years
ago. When looking at buying houses I
noticed that in every neighborhood I never saw any children playing outside. Many developments have neighborhood parks
that were always empty. Even today you
rarely see any children in our park. I
would have to admit is WAY to HOT for anyone to be outside. Children are now consumed with electronics,
cell phones, internet games and Facebook.
It has taken over what used to be called play. Children sit and play games instead of moving
their bodies. "Something that
should be spontaneous and free is now being rigidly planned. When does a kid
ever get to sit in the yard with a stick anymore” stated Corey Dorsey (Levs,
2013). These days we parents “organize”
play with play dates versus allowing children to be spontaneous and creating
play all on their own. I will have to
admit that my daughter too is a victim of being deprived of play. I don’t allow her to just freely go outside
as I once did as a kid. I am a
overprotective mom and if she is outside them I am as well watching. I live in a great neighborhood but my lack of
trust of other because crime happens everywhere……
Levs, J.
(2013). What happened to “go outside and
play?”. Retrieved July 24, 2014, from,http://www.cnn.com/2013/03/22/living/let-children-play-outside/
Play was essential as a kid and it is equally essential in
my life now. Of course it's form is much different as an adult but I
still attempt to find things that I do enjoy in my very busy and scheduled
life. I feel it is more self-care now and entertainment...... Playing
with my daughter and bunnies is now a part of play that I didn't once engage
in. "Play is art, books, movies, music, comedy, flirting and
daydreaming, writes Dr. Brown, founder of the National Institute of Play”
(Tartakovsky, 2012).
Tartakovsky, M.
(2012). The Importance of Play for Adults. Psych Central. Retrieved on
July 26, 2014, from http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2012/11/15/the-importance-of-play-for-adults/
Nikki,
ReplyDeletePlay is definitely different today, then it was many years ago, when I was growing up. You didn't need toys, or maybe it was just me that didn't have too much toys to play outside. I remember flying a kite and it was so much fun, to watch it fly high in the sky and this activity would last hours at a time. Today, kites now have to compete with electronics. I agree with you that I don't have my kids going outside, because of cars speeding down the road, they can only go outside when I am outside. Play is something kids should be able to do and unfortunately it isn't. Kids today don't do backyard baseball or backyard sports without being competitive, it use to be about having fun, now, its all about winning. Kids will have their time to be competitive in high school, right now it should be about playing and having fun. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Nice pictures also.
Thank you!
DeleteNikki, you were a cute little girl, nurse Nikki.
ReplyDeleteYes, those were the best times. I am so worried about this generation of children they are missing out on the best play time they could ever have. The computer world is taking over and children are missing out on movement and creativity. How sad and very disturbing for this generation of children.
Darlene