My Connections to Play

*All work and no play make Jack a dull boy –Proverb

 

*Life is more fun when you are living, working and playing with a mate who truly cares about what happens in every area of your life. –Ritu Ghatourey

                                                              

As a child, play was supported by my parents, teachers, ministry leaders, and playmates in the community. My parents were very strict about the amount of time we spent idling in the house or in front of the television. If we were doing nothing, just sitting around talking, dad would say something like, “get up, go outside and find something to do”. If we watched TV for longer than an hour at a time, mom would just turn the set off and say, “go outside and catch some fresh air”. The worst thing for us to say to our parents was – I’m bored – omgosh, “spring” cleaning was on! (even if it was winter!)

Several instruments of play were always found in our house, to name a few: a ball; a clothesline, used for jump rope or double-dutch; hula hoops (whoosh, whoosh); rocks that were used to draw hopscotch designs; and bicycles. Every child in the neighborhood had one or more of these items, if not all. We were not fortunate to take annual vacation trips but we made many visits to local parks, Miller beach, and the Museum of Science and Industry.

 

                  

 

             At school, we had P.E. (gym) once a week, we actually worked out the whole time and we had a full hour for lunch; we ate and then played outside. We only stayed in if it was raining or below 0 degrees. At the church I attended, we had Sunday school in the morning service and BTU (Baptist training unit) in the evening service. BTU was the best because it was active learning. The ministry leader always had some type of activity to illustrate the lesson which made it practical for us to understand and demonstrate in our lives; much of it, I still remember today. The children in the neighborhood, my playmates, were never dull or boring. We did everything (in the name of exploring) from make-believe safaris (using sticks as machetes to cut through tall grass) to visiting the local funeral home to look at the deceased; it was all adventurous to us.

The type of play I knew as a child is rapidly becoming extinct. In the past, one could drive down any block and see children actively playing outdoors. Today, many blocks look like retirement communities. Children are encouraged to stay indoors more because it is either too hot or unsafe to play outside. Inside the house, children are limited to technology for entertainment because the rule “don’t rip and run in the house” or “don’t play in the house”, still exists. I agree that times have changed and it is not as safe for children to play outdoors as it once was but doing away with play is not the answer; instead of sending children out to play, adults accompanying their children while at play-is the answer.

The role of play was very strong throughout my childhood and still is today. Learning is fun. I like to engage others in learning projects that they will enjoy and make their own because only then will it become transferrable from one person to another. I tell my children, “learn it, use it, and pass it on.”