~My Connections to Play~

 “You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation.” -Plato

“Children need the freedom and time to play. Play is not a luxury. Play is a necessity.”  -Kay Redfield Jamison

“Play gives children a chance to practice what they are learning…They have to play with what they know to be true in order to find out more, and then they can use what they learn in new forms of play.”  -Fred Rodgers

I played dress up in my mom's clothes almost everyday!!!

I cooked as my mom cooked!!!

This is a talking Mickey Mouse that I adored!!!!

She went everywhere with me!!!!!

As a child playing was everything to me!!!!  My days were so peaceful and fun when i was able to play with my friends and toys.  I can remember crying when i had to go over to my aunts house because she did not like for kids to play in the house and she did not allow us to go outdoors.  I must admit that those weekends were the worst.  Not being able to play made me miserable and it also caused me to be mischievous at times.  I personally feel that so many children today are misbehaving in class because they are deprived of recess and free play to let out that burst of energy.  When I was younger I can remember going to neighborhood playground, and playing with the kids on the next block.  In today's society a lot of this has changed because it is just not safe for kids anymore.  It is really sad!!!

When I was younger my parents allowed me play at my own will.  The only things that were off limit were harmful or inappropriate for children!!!  My mom and dad would arrange play dates on weekends, with friends and cousins.  They made sure we always lived near a playground and in safe neighborhoods so the outdoor play can take place.  As for toys, I had so many our basement looked like a toy store.