My Connections to Play

    

Quotes that represented play for me growing up:


 

 
          



My essential   play items            


       
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The Philadelphia Housing Authority projects where I lived where had  free activities and recreation for the community children. We played basketball and softball against other housing projects. We also had a recreation center that provided an area for outdoor and indoor activities that was open Monday-Friday from 4-9 pm.  There was not any fee and we played  sports throughout the year. Parents supported us playing because most of the activities took place in the neighborhood.If we were not playing organized sports there were always lots of children outside playing tag, jumping rope, making mud pies out of dirt, playing in the fire hydrant on hot days, hitting balls against the wall or  just plain running around having fun.  Parents didn't interact with us while we were playing very much during my childhood. They let us play with each other, but they kept an eye on us to make sure that we were safe.

I think the definition of “ play” today  is different, other than the organized sports, which are the same.. When I was a child “play” meant going outside and playing all day until the streetlight came on. If we were inside, we were playing with dolls, cars or other toys. Today play takes on a different meaning. Children still play organized sports outside ,but it is more competitive play than cooperative play. Children are not that excited about just going outside playing and having fun . Their idea of having fun is playing games on their iPad , using computers and  playing video games inside of the house. 

I always loved be playing or doing some type of physical activity.. When I first attended college from 1976  to 1980 I majored in Physical Education. I always encouraged my own children to enjoy the outdoors and play when they were growing up. We did a lot of nature walks, went to the park or did volksmarches when we were overseas. We rode bikes and played different sports whenever we had the time. My one hope for the young children of today is that they are encouraged to play and interact with other children . They need.to come back outside and enjoy the world.

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Anita Marve