Play (Word Wednesday)

Play. It has so many images in my head....

Going to see a play by the Miracle Theatre Company outdoors at Pendennis Castle last year with a lovely picnic. It was hilarious....

Putting on a play about Christians and Romans at school...

Children playing with a ball, maybe with a wall or a racquet...

Football and other games...

Cards and board games... Poker players playing games with each other...

The games that belong in the bedroom...

Playing with colours and textures and materials...

Playing with puzzles and jigsaws....

Animals, puppies and lion cubs and bear cubs pouncing on each other...


This brings me to the true meaning of play. Play IS learning. It is how we learn best and most happily. It is how we enjoy using our bodies and keeping them healthy and active. It is how we teach as well, by playing with others and also by showing them.

So why is it children get to play and adults don't? Can't we learn any more? Why does society want us to stop playing? Why can't children play at school? Why do I have to work rather than play? What does all this focus on computer games tell us about what our children are learning? Are computer skills more important now, than physical skills?

I want to play....