My Connection To Play

What I remember about playing as a child, were the neighborhood children.  I was raised on a college campus and we would run all over campus.  There was some playing in the house, but not much.  In the house my sister and I would play Barbie.  Outside the children of campus would play all kinds of ball.  I could not get the hang of baseball!  To help me out I would get a person to bat for me. I swing the bat real bad.  After hitting enough people with the bat, there were always people saying I will bat for you. These people are such a part of my life that we still keep in contact with each other.  I learned about true friendship, new games, a new way to talk, and how to be a friend on that campus. 

We were all put out of the house at least one time a day, and sometimes would go to different homes until those parents put us out.  Some days we could make it until five.  All of our parents were off by five.  The main rule be in before the lights come on.  To me the support we got, was the making sure that someone had a ball of some sort.  I don’t remember parents being out with us.  I know they knew what we were doing, but no one was outside with us.  We had a whole college campus to use as a playground.

My children did not have a college campus to grow up on, but they have a yard and a few friends that they would have over.  Yes, they play a lot of games, but my daughter did grow up with Barbie and my son still has Hot Wheels (he will be 21 in July). Not as much time outside, but still friends to play with and grow up with.  When I did after school care we did days when the staff would say remember when we played this game?  We would teach the children how to play jacks, hula hoop, and jump rope.  Flash back days are always fun!!!  I hope that someone will always be around to teach the children the older games and that the children will always teach the older people the new games.  I hope that play is not turned into another thing on the list of chores to do.

As I get older I still play jacks, jump a little rope, and blow bubbles all the time.  Bubbles are my therapy!!   It is important to me that I show my children the games that I played and let them see that life is meant to be enjoyed.  We even get my Mom involve in our play time.  Play time I hope will never go away.  You cannot really get into play and not have a great time and feel better when you stop playing.  Every day we should get a good laugh in and share a smile.

  “[Kids] don't remember what you try to teach them. They remember what you are.”
― Jim Henson, It's Not Easy Being Green: And Other Things to Consider

“All of us are products of our childhood.”
― Michael Jackson

“Play is the highest form of research.”
― Albert Einstein

 

1970 First Edition Velvet Doll

 

Malibu Barbie

 

JACKS