…Take Time to Play, It’s the Secret of Staying Young……

Ready to PLAY... PLAY and PLAY... !!
My son Fernando, was ready to explore the Ferrari World in Abu-Dhabi, Uni Arab Emirates.

As a mother of young children and a preschool teacher, my life is definitely surrounded with children for 24/7!! …..and guess what the most favorite activity that the children want to do? Of course it is playing!! When I am at work, I play with my two-years-old students, and then at home…. I play with my daughter and son…. So you can imagine that maybe the only time when I am not playing with the children is only when I am sleeping!!  ( please don’t ask me when I am doing all the assignments for my study….)

Lifting, dropping, building, chewing... licking... throwing... this the way my son Fernando was playing and observing the environment. He was really enjoying his play time in our summer holiday in The Lego-land, Berlin-Germany.

When children are playing , they are lifting, dropping, looking, pouring, bouncing, hiding, building, knocking down, running, climbing…. and many more.  But do you know why children love to play??

Dr. Thomas Armstrong, a learning specialist said that

P L A Y… perhaps is the most basic outcomes of a child’s natural genius

P L A Y….  lies at the heart of many of humanity’s noblest pursuit.

P L A Y …. is essentially nature ways of forging fresh evolutionary possibilities.

I found great information about PLAY in the website ZEROTOTHREE. As the important part of the BEHAVIOUR AND DEVELOPMENT of the young children, play as the true work of childhood really plays a big role in children’s development and well-being.

When the my children play with me, they are also learning—They are learning key scientific concepts, such as what sinks and floats; mathematical concepts, including how to balance blocks to build a tower; and literacy skills, such as trying out new vocabulary or storytelling skills as children “act out” different roles. ……But above all, my children will also learn that they are loved and important and that they are fun to be around. These social-emotional skills give them the self-esteem and self-confidence they need to continue building loving and supportive relationships all their lives.

Parent and the significant person around the children’s life such as teacher, play an important role to play in the land of make-believe. As Joseph Chilton Pearce, author of Magical Child, points out: “The child can never learn to play without the parent playing with the child. PLAY….. is a huge creative potential built within the child, which …..never develops unless it is stimulated by the outer model, the PARENT.”

So, whoever you are, a parent, a teacher, an educator, a nanny, a granny….. as long as you are dealing with CHILDREN… to be able to play with them is really important. But what kind of play thet we can do with our children?? Here are some TIPS AND TOOLS ON PLAY that you can find out from the great website ZEROTOTHREE. Here in this website you can find many links to provide you more information about Tips on Playing with Babies and Toddlers, Baby and Toddler Playtime Ideas, Help Your Child Learn Through Play, How Caregivers Can Nurture Play Skills….. and so many more interesting information about PLAY…

 

So do not hesitate and click the URL below:

http://www.zerotothree.org/child-development/play/tips-and-tools-play.html

and find out yourself the important equipment to be a playful parent and teacher.

Take time, go and play, because it is the secret of staying young!

 

My Playful Family.
It was one of our blissful weekend that we spent in the Wahiba Sand Dunes-a region of desert in Oman. Under the bright morning sky, among the vast and majestic sculptured dunes, .... we were enjoying our family togetherness, having fun with the camel as well!
There's sand in our toes, in our hair and even in our eyes... but it doesn't matter at all because our heart was so full of happiness!!

Regards from Muscat

 

Evita Kartikasari

References

Armstrong, T. (1991). Awakening Your Child’s Natural Genius. Penguin Putnam Inc

Zerotothree. Play. Retrieved from http://www.zerotothree.org/child-development/play/