My Connections to Play

Life must be lived as play.
                                    -Plato

In our play, we reveal what kind of people we are.
                                                                        - Ovid

Play gives children a chance to practice what they are learning.
                                                                                         - Fred Rogers

Those three quotes broadly describe my feelings about play and my childhood play. I don't have any pictures of my favorite play things. My mother loved to throw things out just as soon as she could! I can describe them though. The very first thing I can remember playing with was a small stuffed white elephant with red velvet ears. I slept with it all the time and then one day it was just gone! Growing older, I loved to play with Barbie dolls. My grandmother used to sew clothes for them all the time and I was very happy. I loved to play with my grandmother also. She would always let me help her in the kitchen and it holds many happy memories for me. She supported me and my play during my childhood.

Play today seems to be very different to me. When I was growing up, we had lots of time for free play and it was much safer to play outside too. We could stay outside all day and not have to come inside until the street lights came on. We did not require direct supervision and could take the time we needed to play free choice activities with our own rules and made up all by ourselves. In the neighborhood, our favorite game was kickball.

I still love to play with  my "kids". It is the most enjoyable part of the day, and they often request me to play with them! I thoroughly enjoyed playing with my boys and my grandsons too! I don't think I will ever be too old to play! At least I hope not!