Play Quotes
Play Items
How was play supported?
My mother ensured that I had plenty of items to play with. However, growing up as an only child play was hard to come across. Although I had plenty of toys to play with and opportunities to go outside and play, the amount of time spent playing was somewhat limited as no child wants to play alone. Play took place at school for me. My kindergarten teacher supported play for us by ensuring that there was a time in our day to have free play/ not including recess.
The differences in play.
Play looks very different today than it did when I was a child. Growing up we played outside until the street lights came on, we spent hours setting up barbie mansions and acting out life as our dolls. We pretended to be moms with our baby dolls. We really got deep in our imaginations and played whatever was worth playing. I believe that now it is all about technology. Rather than playing barbies, children sit for hours and watch other children play. It's quite interesting. Rather than getting dirty and playing in the sandbox children watch other children play in the sandbox. Rather than getting involved in the play they seek entertainment through a spectators point of view.
Play and my adult life.
Honestly, I don't think I played enough as a child and as a result, as an adult, I take life too seriously. I can be very uptight and rigid. I stick to a schedule and only in down times do I let myself play. That is very similar to my childhood. As a child, I had to be very responsible and although I had to tools I didn't necessarily have anyone to play with I only played when I had someone to play with. I wish play groups had been a big thing when I was growing up. I think I would now be able to let my hair down and relax a bit if they had.
