Childhood Connections to Play

Childhood Connections to Play

We discovered that education is not something which the teacher does, but that it is a natural process which develops spontaneously in the human being.

Maria Montessori

The creation of something new is not accomplished by the intellect but by the play instinct acting from inner necessity. The creative mind plays with the objects it loves.

Carl Jung

Play should be a part of every child’s day.

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When I was a young child I had three items that were essential to my everyday play.

My doll was a huge part of my day. I got her the same week Mt St. Helens erupted so I fittingly named her Ashla, after all the ash that was around. She went everywhere with me. I cut her hair once thinking it would grow back (I’m still waiting for that to happen), and gave her make-up with a pen. She was such a wonderful companion.

This bike is almost exactly like my childhood bike. However, my childhood bike was not so shinny and new as it went through my two older brothers before I got it.

         

The third and most important was my “back yard”. Our property line runs along the State Park line. So as a child we hand endless space to play outside. We made forts and explored in the forest and walked to the beach to play and explore there as well. It was a wonderful time playing, using our imaginations and having adventures. Most of our days were spent outside.

Play in general was a huge part of my childhood. The only TV I remember watching was Little House on the Prairie and Mork and Mindy. These shows were normally viewed while my mom put my hair up in sponge curlers. We did have chores as a part of being in a family. Never the less play took up most of my day. We would sometimes leave in the morning come home for a quick lunch and then back home for dinner. In between meals we rode bike, played in the mud, found our way through the State Park forest, found frogs, snakes, and other wildlife, and climbed tress. The list goes on and on. Our parents and other adults would support us by giving us the materials we needed like, buckets, shovels, bikes, other tools and old wood for fort building, and ant outside sports equipment.

I feel play is very different than what I had. Children just don’t seem to have the freedom to explore, take chances, and be away from adults ever watching eyes. Children are forced to problem solve, make quick decisions, and protect themselves and others when they are playing on their own. I also think children and families are to “plugged in” and don’t seem to spend the time outside as I did growing up. Play is important for a person’s mental health. I feel that without play people have a tendency toward stress, depression, and other medical problems. Although play looks differently as every stage of life it is still very important. So I say, “Let the play begin”. 

Relationship Reflection

I think that people are social beings because we were never meant to live in isolation. Every relationship with an individual impacts you positively or negatively on some level. However we seem to only acknowledge the extremes in both cases. I know I am thinking a little deep for this assignment so let me lighten things up by saying. We are who we are because of the people and the situations in our life. There have been some situations or people in my life that I would have been better off without, except for the fact that if I had never experienced them I would not be who I am. I am very happy with where my life is and where it is going.

I think I owe the most credit to my parents and my brothers. I grew up in a lower middle class family. We have always been a very close family and I have always had them to talk to, share joys and disappointments with, had their support, and their cheers. They encourage me and stand by me through all my decisions in life. I feel very blessed to be a part of my family.

Another positive relationship would be with my friend Dana. We have been through so much together, (graduations, marriages, children, miscarriages, her son’s bone marrow transplant and more). She is that person I can go to without judgment, and knowing that our conversations will always remain confidential between the two of us. She is supportive, but also helps me to see my potential and cheers me on to go further in life. She is the person I can go have a good time with or sit on a porch and drink tea with no conversation at all, because she knows I need her there but do not want to talk. Dana is a huge piece of my foundation.

Finally one of the most important relationships I have is with my Golden Retriever, Chance. I have always been allergic to dogs and often dreamed of having a Golden Retriever but thought I could never have one. Until one day almost 7 years ago Chance chose me. He was a stray and had been badly abused (evidence of burn marks, malnourished). Friends of mine had been trying to catch him for days to take him to a shelter and I went to see if I could help. When I got there I immediately saw how cute he was and called to him. He ran for me, then past me and jumped in my car. That is why I say he chose me. In these last almost 7 years he has been the best dog I could ever ask for. Aside from loving companionship he literally saves my life. He wakes me up out of a sound sleep when he knows I am having an asthma attach and I am not breathing normal. He stops me on walks when he knows I have gone far enough and need to get back to the car for my inhaler, even before I know I have. He is loyal, loveable, and smart.

I feel each of these relationships make me a better person. They make me unselfish, companionate and thoughtful. They make me work harder to be the best friend, daughter, sister, dog mom, and person I can be. They also make me look hard at the different kinds of relationships that children need in their lives.