My most memorable moments with my friends was spent playing with our Hoppity Horses. I got my for Christmas and woke up Christmas morning with chicken pox. My dad stayed home with me while the rest of my family went to my grandmother's house. I didn't feel bad, so I hopped all day. My friends and I would have races like they were our cars. I hopped in the yard, in the house and it became my new form of transportation. I found this commercial from the 70s and thought I'd share it.
I think in my childhood our play was very diversified. I spent many hours playing school with all my dolls but at the same time I also had wonderful memories of outside time climbing trees and making mud pies. As my only daughter grew, I was so disappointed that she did not like dolls. I bought her a doll every Christmas and tried to show her how to play but she didn't like it. By the time she was born in 1995, electronics had taken over as the most wanted toys. My children did however spend a lot of time outdoors.
There were many skills learned through play when I was younger. Many times my friends and I played in an open field and away from our homes. We had to make up the games, the rules and solve the arguments without the help of parents. No one thought of running home to tattle to parents. Playing belonged to us, the children and it was a world that parents did not belong in.
Unfortunately as society changes, many things change such as playing for children. There are safety reasons why children cannot play away from home but we as educators and parents have to find a way to improvise and give our children opportunities to explore the world of pretend play.
This statement is so true "We had to make up the games, the rules and solve the arguments without the help of parents. No one thought of running home to tattle to parents. Playing belonged to us, the children and it was a world that parents did not belong in".
ReplyDeleteI look at my four year son and I think that the way he plays now with such imagination, is not going to last long. I played with barbie dolls and I loved making up stories about my dolls and their lives. My friends and were very secretive and we really enjoyed one another. I am still friends with many of my childhood friends and I am not talking about Facebook friends.
That is exactly true. Everything is basically handed to the children now. Things are so much easier because the instructions are right in front of them. I never played with big dolls too much. I only played with them when I was braiding their hair. I mainly played with barbie dolls.
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