My Connection to Play

What does the word play means for early childhood? Play involves a free choice activity that is non-literal, self-motivated, enjoyable and process oriented. (Wardie,1987). When I was a young child I played with dolls, dishes, and games these items I learned by watching my family in what was done around me. I played with dolls because I like taking care of the dolls and made them look pretty with the different clothes I had to dress them with. I like combing their hair in different styles how my mother or other people that comb my hair.  With the dishes I wanted to imagine that I had to cook food for my dolls so they could eat and I needed the dishes to put the food on. Then when the dolls were threw I wash the dishes and put them up for the next time. My games I played with my family and friends and I learned from watching them play with each other and myself. I started beating my family and friends in the games that made me feel proud of me and it gave me confident in myself. 

I believe that play is the same in certain situations when I was coming up play teaches a child to learn things on their own by imagination, seeing others do something that might impress the child. Play shows children how to share with each other and be kind to each other. It teaches social skills on how to communicate with each other and learning how to play and use the toys and different ways. Some children might think now that it is not right for them to share their toys with anyone only they can play. But this is when the parents and teachers can teach the children that it is okay to share with friends and this is how they can be nice to their friends. Explain to the child how they can be nice and give the children an example or how they can share and not fight with their friends or family about their toys.

              

My thought regarding the role of play have taught me through my childhood to now that it help me to develop my motor skills, social play by interacting with family and friends and learning how to cooperate and share with others. Be able to use my vocabulary skills in a way I could express myself where I could be understandable. Play taught me how to be kind to others as I do now in my life time. Some children are not taught how to be kind the child thinks it is okay to fight, kick, bite or using profanity to get what he or she wants.  When I was coming up parents taught their children how to play with other children, how to share, don not fight your friends because when you get older you would not have many friends and I listen to what was told to me.  I have seen children at the age of four using profanity at the school with the classmate because the child got upset with another student.  By me being a teacher I said it was my responsibility to stop and let the child know that the language he was using could not be use in the school I took time to explain why the language he was using could not be use to the child and he understood and apologize to the student.

Play also works as an adult because you can remember when to play and when not to play.  Play for an adult is a stress breaker it helps you to be socialization with other people you meet.  You can be concern about other feelings when playing with other adults some might take it personal when you do not mean for it to go that way that is when the problem solving comes in so it can be a positive situation and not a negative situation.  But by looking at children you can learn from them in how they solve their problems and they are back friends and playing. With some adults it does not work like that some do not want to work out their problems and it goes on until someone step in to be the mediator to bring them back together.