My Connections to Play

"Play energizes us and enlivens us. It eases our burdens. It renews our natural sense of optimism and opens us up to new possibilities."Stuart Brown, MD
Contemporary American psychiatrist

"A child loves his play, not because it’s easy, but because it’s hard."Benjamin Spock
American pediatrician
1903–1998

When I was a little girl. I wanted to be a doctor. I wasn't sure what type of doctor I wanted to be but I wanted to be one. My grandmother was very suppportive. She used to let me "work on her" with my play doctor tools. I used to love giving her shots! lol Her feet and ankles used to swell so I would "help" her make the swelling go down with my medical expertise!

I loved playing Nintendo too. And since I wanted to be a doctor so bad, I enjoyed playing Dr. Mario, which is a very strategic game. Matching the pills was a fun concept to me! I believe it helped my brain develop in a more creative way.

To me, play is different for children these days due to technology. Granted, smaller children still play amongst each other but it seems that older children are leaning towards more computer games and game systems. When I was growing up, I played outside with my friends and did a lot of physical activities. Granted I had a game system too but I still enjoyed being outside. I have noticed that a lot children rather play indoors, which to me, limits them to only one type of play. Children should have a variety of play. Being versatile comes with being creative in my eyes. We should encourage children to have an open mind and be willing to try new things indoors and outdoors so they can experience play at all levels with no boundaries...

I believe play has benefitted me throughout my childhood because not only was it a chance for me to be creative, but it was a coping strategy as well. I experienced a lot as a child and play helped me to "escape reality". And now as an adult, when I am "going through something" I find myself doing things such as playing games or "acting silly" in order to take my mind off things. I believe play helps because you have to come up with a strategy to "conquer" or "win", whether it's a game on the computer or a game with friends. And I believe that helps us deal with life better because when we run into a problem, we have to come up with a plan of action to solve it. I also believe play helps children to discover what and who they want to do in life. Look at some of the celebrities who sing. Some of them used to put on concerts for their stuffed animals and/or their friends. Now look at them. They are living out their dreams! Therefore, play not only benefits us as children, but it also benefits us as adults...play is a necessity for all!

Quotes retrieved from: http://www.thestrong.org/about-play/play-quotes