Real Play and Piaget

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Recommended: Influences of play on learning and development

Real Play

"Play that is initiated and directed by children and that bubbles up from within the child rather than being imposed by adults is disappearing from our landscape of childhood. There are many reasons for this, such as long hours spent in front of a TV, fear of "stranger danger" when outside." (Exchange Every Day, 2009)

Research, past and present, clearly points to the importance of play for the healthy and full development of the young child. Piaget theorized that a child's mental models, or cognitive structures, are based on the child's activities: engagement makes meaning. Many children today are not benefiting from a balance of intellect and imagination. Play is declining in our schools and preschools to meet the social demands to have curriculum or academic instruction. "Play, Dreams and Imitation in Childhood is perhaps the most incisive and through analysis of linkages between play and intellectual development. Play follows development rather than causing it." (Frost, Wortham, & Reifel, 2008) My belief that free, unstructured play is healthy and, in fact essential for helping children reach important social, emotional, and cognitive developmental milestones.

Our country's mindset does not align with Piaget's theory nor Vygotsky's. We are modeling how to create a life that is as safe and without risk. We want life to be organized and in charge all the time. We are teaching children that life should be balanced and measurable. That is tidy and play is not. Play is messy. When I was reflecting about adult play I didn't know what to call it, adults don't play we work. Play is vast in many for children: fun, risky, discovery, social, new together, sensitive and so much more.

The zone of proximal developmen...

... middle of paper ...

...ew my creativity and recognize that I do play but not always for fun, but why? For some of my play experiences I got swept up in the competitiveness. Reflecting back now I wonder why the need to win? I noticed that when I was competing it took the fun out of the play. I had to look inside, than the light bulb came on, if you have to think about your fun and analyze it than of course you won't have fun. Mutual play supported my effort to reconnect and make new friends. Sometimes life's greatest joys our found in life's many experiences, but what changes that experience from work to fun is your own self-worth.

" Play ceases to be play when you the child or adult has to play!"

Works Cited

Exchange Every Day. (2009, March 2). The Fear of Play , pp. 10-11.

Frost, J. L., Wortham, S. C., & Reifel, S. (2008). Play and Child Development. New Jersey: Kevin M. Davis.

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