"Play is our brain's favorite way of learning" Diane Ackerman
"Play gives children a chance to practice what they are learning" Fred Rogers
Essential Play items as a child
As a child growing up with one sibling my parents were very supportive of play as long as my sister was by my side since i was the oldest. After-school i had to make sure that my homework and chores were completed before i could ask if i could go outside and play. My parents allowed me to be involved with extracurricular activities but it was never forced. My parents allowed me to have friends and to go outside and play as long as i came home before the street lights came on. As a child i enjoyed going to the local park district with my friends and playing at the playground and making up games such as house, IT(tag). On the weekends i enjoyed swimming at the local park district with my friends.As a child i was a great swimming and enjoyed using my swim pass to go swimming everyday during the summer. Growing up as a child and being involved with my peers allowed me to gain socio-emotional skills and bonds that would last a life time, since i still hangout with my peers from grammar school.
Play is very much different now than how play was when i was a child. I feel that children are more into video games and technogolgy now than going outside and playing. As a child, obesity wasn't a big concern as it is now, as a child we enjoyed playing and running around. As a child i remember making up games with my cousins and using our imaginations. Now children seem to be into TV and dangerous activiteis such as gangs, bullying and etc.
