My Connections to Play

There are children playing in the street who could solve some of my top problems in physics, because they have modes of sensory perception that I lost long ago.

J. ROBERT OPPENHEIMER,

You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation.--Plato, Greek philosopher 

I was so excited to write about play and the impact it had on me as a child...I grew up in the 80's what a great time too!  We played outside all day and used our imagination and came home when the streets lights came on.  My parents were a great supporter of my play they encourage it and supported my passions of my love for my Cabbage Patch Doll which I still have today including my adoption papers.   My doll is Lila Julienne and she went every where and had all the accessories I would need to be a great mom :) My mom would tell people that is her granddaughter and supported me in wanting more children by buying three more siblings.  I played for hours with my dolls and created elaborate scenarios in playing house.  I never let my friends hold any of my children but I always created ways they could join in the fun!  My second love was my big wheel, of course it was not exactly like the one pictured  because the seat was higher but I remember burning some rubber in my cul-de-sac.  My friends and I would race carry our babies on the back and be the police to the older kids because we knew that we were the fastest.  My childhood was fantastic I was always outside, never even knew what a video game was until I was in the 7th grade and then still preferred to be outside.

 I think the difference of youth today is they don't know how to play.  They prefer electronics over imagination and exercise and show no interest in interacting with friends because it is so hot outside!  I never knew what hot was and I lived in Oklahoma for 7 years as a child.  I understand that the dynamics have changed with urbanization and children missing but take them to the park for goodness sakes or go outside with them and watch them play!  We grow up as adults and I know for myself that play with and without my parents was an integral part of my childhood still today. 

I believe what separates us from our childhood is the ability to play....if  recent studies can be found that taking a 30 minute nap improves our thinking abilities at work, than why not study the measure of play and how an imagination can improve your overall abstract thinking.  I bet if we asked a 4 year-old the best way to build a bridge they would come up with a better solution than a 28 year old who has a masters in engineering.  Its all about the ability to think beyond the problem in the box but to explore the problem beyond its realms.