Childhood Connections to Play

“Play provides the ultimate curriculum for social, physical, and cognitive advancement” Wardle

“Lots of play at an early age enables children to develop the wide, integrated foundation required for future academic success. It also will develop in our children a love of learning, a love that is desperately needed by children who can look forward to a minimum of 13 years of formal education.” Wardle

I love these quotes because we live in an era when child-initiated and directed play is on the brink of disappearing due to many factors.  Some believe it is the increase demand of modern life, which robs families of precious time to spend with their children, and safe space for non-supervised play. Others blame television, the Internet, video games and standardized math science and reading testing, which reduce children’s play time. I quintessentially believe that play is the best way to teach children academic concepts. Learning has to be fun and enjoyable and take into account every child’s inner desire, which is to be a child.

I was born in the late seventies, and I was lucky enough to grow up in a large open and safe place where I remember playing outside until I needed to eat or sleep to go home. My mother would call my name out of her window for me to come home. In my culture, older siblings have a very important part in raising children. I remember playing with my circle of friends; older and younger children of my neighbors and my brothers and sisters for hours and hours. My older siblings involved me and helped me understand games.  Their scaffolding with me helped me become the person I am today. I believe character development, self-regulation and self-assertion among other crucial aspects of academic success start play. Let’s make the early years play years.