Childhood is a period
of exploration and learning. Babies play by exploring the world within their
reach and thus learn about the world. Babies from different cultures have a
variety of experiences but develop in similar fashion. Babies in Africa play in
the dirt, in Mongolia babies can crawl amongst the animals, in the United States
babies crawl in a safe, clean and probably risk free environment. This poses an
interesting question; have the “safety” restrictions hindered natural growth
and development of children?
While pondering this
question, listen to the video The
Benefits of Risk produced by Alliance for Childhood and KaBoom. Here is the
link: http://www.allianceforchildhood.org/node/96
. The short video has
four professionals discussing the benefits of risk. In general, the professionals
share that children learn from their own efforts and mistakes. Struggling is a
part of childhood and setbacks build perseverance and confidence as mastery is
achieved. This struggling can be the result of mastering a piece of playground
equipment to climbing a tree to learning to make new friends. The professionals
discuss how the United States culture is obsessed with safety and the real
problem is accepting the possibility that a child might get hurt. Trying to
make a child’s life risk free is a mistake as life is not risk free. Tom
Mullarkey, Chief Executive, Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents,
states “We must try to make life as safe as necessary, not as safe as possible.”
Joe L. Frost,
University of Texas at Austin states, “The American Journal of Play promises to
change the common view that play is frivolous and unimportant. Play builds and
heals minds and bodies. It is nature’s way of ensuring competence and fitness.”
You can access the journal learn more
about the importance of play for all ages at the following link: http://www.journalofplay.org/
A day full of play
which heals minds and bodies is International Mud Day coming June 29, 2013.
Check it out http://www.worldforumfoundation.org/get-ready-for-mud-day-2013/
The
mission of the Nature Action Collaborative for Children is to re-connect children
with the natural world by making developmentally appropriate nature education a
sustaining and enriching part of the daily lives of the world’s children. A
day set aside for enjoying the outdoors and a good ole fashion mud pie. I
remember building mud pies as a child and as an adult with my children. It sure
did heal the mind and body. An excellent website for gathering more information
and resources about Mud Day is http://www.muddyfaces.co.uk/mud_kitchens.php
We can view the value
of play through quotes from some famous people.
“It is a happy talent
to know how to play.” Ralph Waldo Emerson, 1803-1882
“Play gives children a
chance to practice what they are learning.” Fred Rogers, 1928-2003
“Play is the highest
form of research.” Albert Einstein, 1879-1955
