Today children play much differently than we did when I was a child.  Yes, it was a long time ago.  When I was a little girl my parents bought me a chalkboard.  They installed it on the back wall of my closet.  It is where I spent hours and hours, lining up my dolls and stuffed animals, along with my little sister.  I would teach them ABC’s and 123’s because yes, a babysitter had taught me before I entered kindergarten, she also taught me how to write in cursive.  I believe it was from those moments on I wanted to tap into that passion and share my love of learning.  Having those moments to play, use my imagination and teach is what built who I am today.  Well, that and the fact that my mother never let me play with glitter or play-dough.

When I think of how I played with others, I remember how lucky I was to have such a large family that lived next door.  We were always outside.  Playing kickball, tag, climbing trees, jumping rope, riding bikes.  The rule was we had to be home by the time the street lights came on.  The neighbors had a dinner bell on their back porch, their mom would ring it when dinner was ready.  It was rare that we ever came in the house.  Even when it was raining or snowing we would always play outside.  When we were tired of playing we would go and visit Mrs. Dontjey across the street.  She lived alone and would always sit out under her shade tree with an empty chair next to her.  As if inviting us to come talk to her.  Many times I remember telling her about the games we would make up, and how to play them.  Making up games with rules was fun.   Altering the rules as we played, making the tree safe, or ending a track and having to go around the garden.

When my sister and I were older we would spend weekends away at our father’s house.  We had bikes and were allowed to leave and ride around the neighborhood.  Looking back now I realize that it wasn’t in the best neighborhood.   We would pretend we were much older and would be going to work.  I guess when you are 12 that would be fun.  Now being older and having to go to work, I wish there were days I could just ride my bike all day.  (HA).  I believe when we did that we were teaching ourselves limits.  How far to travel, where to go, when to come back.

Play today is different than it was then.  When my own kids play, now that they are older, I have to force them out of the house.  I tell them to go explore the woods we have in our backyard, they come back staring at me as if asking me to give them something to do.  I do not remember playing when I was 4.   I would imagine myself playing independently.  My children do not play independently.  They like to be entertained.  The same goes for getting to school.  I remember walking far to get to school, they hardly walk far at all.  I also remember playing without supervision, more recently there have been parents arrested for allowing their children to go to a park and walk alone.   My hope for today’s children is that they are able to find the freedom to explore, get lost in the woods, run barefoot, get dirty, and have fun with their imaginations.