My play time always encompassed the opportunity to explore my surroundings and use my imagination. I reminisce about playing in the woods at my grandmother's house for hours and learning new trails or riding my bike until the street lights came on. Each time I would find something new that I hadn't found before.
"Logic will get you from A to Z, but imagination will get you anywhere." - Albert Einstein
I would make play houses out of folding lawn chairs and play for hours with my Barbies or would tie a blanket around my neck, add some bracelets and become "Wonder Woman" - completed with my underoos! My cousin tells the story of how I had an imaginary friend named "Marcia" and would talk to her late at night when she would babysit me. She says I would have very in depth conversations with her like she was a real person. Apparently, it had scared my cousin several times as she thought I was talking to a ghost.
Toys that made my day:
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| Mrs. Beasley was one of my beloved dolls. I slept with her every night and played with her everyday until she fell apart and could no longer be salvaged. I remember my mom talking me into throwing her away then me changing my mind on garbage night. My mom went out into the rain to retrieve her for me before the garbage truck came. |
I loved to make tents anywhere in my house. Some of my favorite memories include my younger brother and I making tents in our bedroom between 2 beds, watching the Jetsons and eating Doritos. It was such a place to get away from everything.
My other favorite doll was Baby Crissy. She had a long ponytail that would "magically" disappear when a string was pulled on her back. She could change her hairstyles instantaneously. I loved her so much and loved playing with her hair until...I got the scissors and permanently cut her hair. She wasn't as much fun after that.
My Supporting People
I remember learning to ride my bike without training wheels and watching my dad push me around the yard. I would always look back and check the shadow to see if he was still holding on. I miss him dearly. He also made sure my swing set was put together before he went into the hospital for a heart surgery as he wanted to make sure I had a happy birthday. While I don't remember too many playtimes with him, I remember him giving me the tools for play.
I had many friends in the neighborhood that I played with. Chris and Heidi taught me how to roller skate in my driveway. I loved to play Barbies, but Chris was never allowed as his dad was a police officer and had strong feelings about boys playing with Barbies. We would hide behind the walls of my porch so he could play and scramble to clean up when we heard noises. Dan and I would ride our bikes all over town along with Tiffany. I loved seeing the new sites and pretending I was on an adventure with them.
Past and Future
I loved having the freedom to ride my bike or take a walk for miles. I could be gone for hours and my parents never seemed to mind. I made the right choices....most of the time. It's sad that our society has changed so much that I wouldn't dare let my own children do these things now. I feel that I can't even let my children play in the yard without watching them every minute for a stranger to come by. I see children so wrapped up in media that they have never learned how to make a mud pie or had the opportunity to play tennis off the garage door while pretending you were in Wimbledon. The magic of imagination is all but disappearing from our children's play just like our connections with nursery rhymes.
"Life must be lived as play." - Plato
I am proud to be a mother and a director of a child care. I hope to always let my inner child shine. Just recently, we had numerous days of rain and my children were bored, complaining and fighting. I was busy doing homework and decided we needed to change things up. I invited them outside. My oldest child, age 10, looked at me like I was crazy. I ran out the door, up and down the driveway and splashed in puddle after puddle. He paused briefly and joined me giggling the entire time. Within minutes, my other children join me and we played for an hour in the rain, just splashing away. We filled buckets and dumped them on each other, slid across the grass like a make-shift slip and slide and had the time of our lives. It is my hope that I will never loose my inner child and they will cherish these memories over making the high score of a video game.
I love your story of playing in the rain. I think too many people would be worried about what the neighbors, state, or parents might think. But playing in the rain is awesome! Everyone should get a chance to experience it sometime in their life! Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteHi Arlene,
ReplyDeleteI also like your playing in the rain story! I think that everyone needs to let their inner child out sometimes and just play. As I was reading about your adventures as a child, I was reminded of all the fun I used to have while doing things that were similar. By playing, children create memories that will last, as well as learning.
Hi Arlene,
ReplyDeleteI loved your post. What a wonderful time spent in the rain! Your children will always remember that day!Loved your quotes as well.
I love the rain story! I can remember how my grandma would let us play in the rain and she would join us. Even to this day, I sometimes just jump in a mud puddle!! It keeps us young!!
ReplyDeleteI really like that albert einstein quote. It is so true, childrens imaginations are crazy. The kids in my class are always going to disney world or california or some are up on the moon. It is so cute to watch them pretend to be somewhere.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading your post....Today its raining and if my nieces and nephews were over I would have went outside. We also share a similar childhood experience. My siblings and I use to make club houses with all the pillows in the living room and use blankets and sheets to hold them together. I was a fun time too. I also agree too many children are wrapped up in the media.....Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteArlene,
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading about you connections to play. I am also a director and can sometimes get wrapped up in paperwork and office duties and I like to take a break from this to go interact with the children. I too have an inner child that I hope to always keep around. I enjoy taking a break from my office work to go and play with the children at my center both indoors and outdoors. it is refreshing and reminds me why I do the work I do. I think everyone should take a break to play.
Playing in the rain can be great. In the Spring we ask our parents to bring in rain boots and coats so that we can take our children outside in the rain. They love to jump in the puddles and being outside when they are normally told they can't.
ReplyDelete