My Connection to Play

"Play is our brain's favorite way of learning."

Diane Ackerman www.thestrong.org/about-play/play-quotes

"Children need the freedom and time to play. Play is not a luxury. Play is a necessity."

Kay Redfield Jamison www.thestrong.org/about-play/play-quotes

I can remember growing up in the 70's and 80's and playing outside with all my friends after school. We would play hide and see everyday. Play was different when I was growing up. We didn't have any elctronic we had dress-up clothes and bikes and playdoo and different color chalk to draw in the street. We played Old Maid cards when it was a rainy day and told funny stories.
I wish kid's today had the opportunity to run and play like we did in the 70's. The feeling of being free for those couple of hours everyday taught me to be creative and very independent. Children today are glue to a video game or some type of electronics. My grandchildren hate to walk outside especially when I take them to Smithville Historic Park. We learn about historic event and all kind of nature walks. My grandson Jayden cries its boring there are no video games and to many people. I always tell him to go and meet some friends maybe you can see if they live near us and invite them  to Galloway Community movies at the Park.
Children today are not interest in creative play they are so different from when I grew-up. I remember being out-side until the sunset and I had so many friends on my block my mom couldn't remember everyones name. Today society children don't have that many friends if so its on Facebook and there is no real connection beside looking at someone picture and texting. My friend are still my play friends because we still get together once in a while and play cards have a barberque and do the soul-train dance. These are my playing friends forever. Today Children's social development is lacking that true meaning of play.

"When children pretend, they’re using their imaginations to move beyond the bounds of reality. A stick can be a magic wand. A sock can be a puppet. A small child can be a superhero."

Fred Rogers:  www.thestrong.org/about-play/play-quotes