"Play is often talked about as if it were a relief from serious learning. But for children play is serious learning. Play is really the work of childhood." Fred Rogers
This post is sponsored by The Genius of Play.
It turns out play is more than fun and games. It is an an important teaching tool! Through play, kids learn how to interact with others and develop critical lifelong skills. When I read the above quote, it did resonate with me and validated all of the money I have spent on toys this holiday season!
Building Sandcastles is a lesson in architecture construction and negotiation
It reminded me of a few times when I observed my daughter playing and noticed the genius that is play. One day I watched our daughter and her friend building sandcastles and was amazed. They learned about construction. They learned about force, time and distance--hey that's work! They also negotiated. They discussed who wanted what and whether that person's "wants" were consistent with the overall objective.
It appears that it's not just me and Mr. Rogers who believe in the power of play to teach children lessons. There is a new site entitled, "The Genius of Play" that exists to educate parents and educators about the benefits of play and how important play is for children. According to their site, "[e]xperts agree that play has a profound impact on childhood learning." The Genius of Play publishes articles, tips and advice so that we can all benefit from the latest research. I don't know about you, but I need this in my life. My eight year old isn't really that excited about formal learning, but retains all of the lessons she learns "by accident".
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| Girl playing with dolls |
Imagination through play broadens children's minds
One of the great things about having children are all of the opportunities for unexpected amusement! Observing them playing takes you back to a time when your imagination could take you anywhere. As we grow up, we stop believing. Life "matures" us. We realize that Santa Claus is just a man. There's no pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. And the Easter Bunny doesn't exist. When we stop believing, we lose something. And that maturity can also make us stop believing that we can make our dreams come true.
One reason I love the above photo is because it demonstrates my daughter's innocence. It captures her "posing" with her dolls. I think she thought she was invisible because her eyes were closed. Seeing this made me laugh and made me happy. A lot of kids have to manage difficult lives. They may be sick. They may live in poverty. They may have lost a parent. It does my heart good that my daughter has been able to enjoy a wonderful childhood where she is able to experience the joy of pretending. It also reminds me that my own possibilities are only limited by my own imagination.
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