Almost all creativity involves purposeful play. (Abraham Maslow)
Play gives children a
chance to practice what they are learning. (Fred
Rogers)
When I was younger people supported play by encouraging all neighborhood children to play safely together. During the weekdays, the children were encouraged to focus on their school work and then play with their friends outside after their were done. On the weekend, family, friends, and the neighbors would get together and have either a fish fry or BBQ and all the children would play different games such as hula hoop, hopscotch, jump rode, and sidewalk games.
Play today is not similar to play when I was a child. When I was a child, we learned how to create fun games for everyone to participate in at home and at school. Now, most of the play situation that children participate in is considered constructive play. Children should be allowed to create fun learning games more and involve constructive play alone with it in the learning environment.
Throughout life, play is a major part of how children build their social skills. It is important for children to know socially interact with their peers and also with adults in the learning environment.
