Full article from the Term 1 No 2 2007 Newsletter

Power of Play

I have just finished reading a new book by a wonderful author and child expert, from the USA called David Elkind. He wrote a very well known book called The Hurried child, which actually inspired me to write my book, What's the Hurry?.

His new book is called The Power of Play. It emphasises how important play is in the life of a child, whether they are infants, toddlers, preschoolers or primary aged children. He talks a lot in the book about how there is less time for play, less value in play and so many toys and games available that even the nature of play itself is less engaging and rich.

Elkind's book is one I would recommend for all families and teachers. We need to be reminded and challenged to ensure our children are being given opportunities to play, to create, to imagine, to construct, to wonder and to enjoy.

Through play, children are able to experience roles they may not have had the chance to experience before. Play enables children to make sense of the things they are exposed to; to explore, to experiment, to imagine and to practise skills. Play also encourages language and conversation which is an important foundation for literacy.

We need to try to value play in our own minds. Play requires time. Time to go down to the local park, to hang out in the backyard if there is one, or to engage in a range of experiences at home that provide opportunities for creative interactions and constructions. Children have wonderful imaginations and so we can provide some props for play to help make it rich and creative:

Cardboard boxes that may become cars, or trams or houses
Blankets that might become tents or caves or picnics
Scrap material that might become dress ups
Bits of wood that might be glued or hammered together
Playdough
Buckets of water to wash toys in
Paper and cardboard and bits and pieces to paste with
Little blocks
Magnifying glass
Bug catchers
Scrap books to draw in rather than colouring in books

As a community, we often become caught up in the hype and clever marketing that toys have to be electronic, have to be computerised and that the more expensive they are, the better they will be. Children's toys and games should be of the kind that encourage children to use some of their own imagination, so that they can create the play around the toys and objects we provide for them.
Parents often feel guilty for not being able to afford expensive games and toys and yet, some of the richest and most meaningful play can be with junk materials.

Some children, as David Elkind states, have so many toys that they are often overwhelmed with so many to choose form and flit from one toy to another without every truly engaging in the play and using the toy in a rich and engaging way. They never get to value and use their toys well simply because they can just throw one aside and move to the next and the next.

We need to ensure that our children have time to play. Less TV and computer time, less electronic games and less DVDs. Getting children outside, thinking creatively, engaging in physical activity, learning how to self initiate their own play and to occupy themselves, are all important life skills. Life is not about endless entertainment and being scheduled into activities.

Being able to enjoy one's own company, play actively and interact with others and to feel the freedom of uninterrupted time to play and create and imagine is something all children need a lot more of.

Given the holidays are upon us, it is important to ensure as parents that you don't feel pressured into spending lots of money and having to go out each day. Balance your child's time so that sometimes they simply have to play.

Kathy Walker