My Connections to Play

As a child play was a natural part of my daily routine, whether it be outside or just inside the house, but play was allowed and not put down, because it was seen as vital part of growing up, or maybe just a part of growing up. At a very young age, my parents may have come and play with me, then as I got a little older around age 6 or 7, I played by myself pretend play, I have a brother so he would not necessarily want to play what i was playing, though when we did go outside we would play together. As usual there were rules, how far to go outside, what time to come inside etc, but playing was very much encouraged as I grew up. As a child growing it was a custom to receive gifts of toys, or books all which are used for the intellectual growth as a child. 

Play today compared to play when I was young, is different and sometimes non-existent, play today can be so very structured, trying to get the child to learn something specific from a specific object. When I was a child if a toy was not available children would use whatever was in the house or outside the house. There was a social aspect of play, you had to go out of your way to make a friend and be able to play, whether it be sharing a toy, colouring, or playing a hand game it was not always a purposely set up by adults but it usually came naturally by the child. Children usually set out to discover and explore on their own, the problem comes when adults try to control their exploring and then have to make up for it in setting up the correct atmosphere for them to explore, which may not always give the same results.

Play, plays a very important in the development and growth of the child, play builds the foundation for the maturity of the adult the child will grow up to be. It encourages social, mental, physical development that is important as a child and as an adult.