MY CONNECTION TO PLAY

“Play is a right of all children because it is vital for their development and well-being.”

United Nations

“Children's natural energy and enthusiasm can be channelled into experiences where they learn about their bodies, about themselves, and how to cope with others when they are sharing in movement, games, and skill based activities.”
Australian Sports Commission

PLAY is important for children because it helps them to develop physically, intellectually, emotionally, socially and spiritually in a more robust way. Through play, children have opportunities to experience delight, display their understanding of the world around them and to unleash their imagination. They may also express their feelings such as love, grief, and loss through play and come to better understand things that trouble or confuse them.

Growing up was fun for me and playing was part of it. My childhood was in a culture where children are expected to play on a daily basis because of the believe that play, especially traditional games develop fundamental skills and good character in a child. Though boys and girls were not allowed to play together, there were enough age and gender appropriate games and play types for each gender. The importance attached to play in my growing-up years can be seen in the way parents react if their child is not playing, it is taken that something is terribly amiss with that child and as such parents are worried and troubled.

I can still remember how mum will drop me off at grand ma's place and how I played with other

children that were with her, she ran a kind of charitable day care then. Apart from toys that I normally go with, grand ma's house was full of toys that most times I do not unpacked my bag to get my toys as there were enough toys for me to play with. In addition to toys, there was a big space that we used for outdoor activities such as sand plays, water games, climbing, planting, driving and so on. For my grand mother, play remains the most important tool for children's education and healthy development. I could remember how my mother will always tell her that she brought some books for me to read and she should make sure I read them and she would countered her that what I need for brain development and healthy growth is play

Though my dad and mum were working when I was growing up, they encouraged my playing by buying toys for me, albeit I have regulated time to use my toys. Dad always found time, especially on weekends to sit down and play with me, most times he initiated games and activities that we are to do. One way my dad encouraged and motivated me in playing some games was that any time I won or played well he rewarded me with a gift which used to be my favourite -chocolate.

Despite the many benefits that play offers for children as shown by research, time for play is been reduced for children. Even at schools, child centred/play-based learning is been rejected in favour of adult-directed, instruction-based learning. Bradon (2002) gave the example of a case whereby the science, art, and
dramatic play areas a public school kindergarten
teacher envisioned in her classroom were prohibited by school administrators who “expected
preschoolers” to sit all day at desks, go without
recess so that they can learn to read by year’s end.

As an adult, I found play to be of great benefits. When I play with my son, not only is he happy, he equally develops skills, discovers some things and learn some social skills. And for me, I always finds it a refreshing time, a better way to prevent boredom, and a way of reducing stress.