"Play is our brain's favorite way of learning." -Diane Ackerman
Children learn much about their identity during "play time". It is a very essential tool for them to engage in and is very rewarding with positive benefits; able to solve problems, great social skills, build muscles, create ideas, etc. Being involved in fun activities played a very important role in my childhood. Believe it or not, during the holidays, I would write and direct short plays for my little brother and sister so that we could perform them for my mom. I had no idea that it would have an impact on me later in life; I studied theatre, directed and wrote a play, and performed a few shows while in college. I found joy and excitement in writing plays and pretending to be someone else when it was time to perform them. Play enhanced my writing and entertainment skills and prepared me for college. 
My first barbie doll ever was this exact Brandy doll! This was one of my most memorable moments as a child and just looking at this picture brings back those warm feelings!
This was so much fun! I loved pretending to cook and prepare food for my invisible guest!
My mother supported my play habits as a child. She allowed me the opportunity to be myself when I engaged in play and would usually let my little brother, sister, and myself engage in play after school until it was bed time. Unfortunately, play for children today has changed tremendously. Now, children feel that play time is texting, taking pictures on cellular devices, engaging in social networking sites, singing songs with explicit lyrics, etc. My hope for young children who find excitement in this type of play is that it doesn't influence them when they become adults and also hope that parents would make the decision to keep their children away from these things.
"In our play, we reveal what kind of people we are." -Ovid
Check out a few more pics below of the many toys I used during play time;
Really enjoyed reading about the many toys and the ways you played. Kids today do not know how to play like we used too. I collected Holiday Barbies for many years. I also loved putting on plays and making things for my family as well. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteHi Latasha,
ReplyDeleteMaking plays and all those other games that allowed you to use your creativity and imagination were great. I agree with you that technology has overcome the children of today. Between texting and pictures, the world could be coming down around them and they wouldn't even notice. Having headphones in their ears is another thing that seems so much more common now. Children are secluding themselves slowly that it almost seems that one day we will all be like the characters in Wall-E that don't even know other people or things exist then what they seen on a screen in front of them. Thanks for your post.
Stephanie
Latasha,
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your post with the class. I love that you had a real Brandy doll as a young girl. Not too many people knew that doll existed, so it was greta to see you had one too. I can relate to you with many of your other toys as well. I used to collect Barbies and Kenya dolls as well. I agree with you on how important play is and I strive to make sure play is included in daily activites with all the children enrolled in my child care facility. This was a great post and I enjoyed reading the quote that closely matched your ideas of play as a child.
Thanks,
Shayla
It was a joy to read about how you grew up as a child and all the many toys that you had. My sister was more into the Barbie’s I wasn’t too much but I must say it give her a very great talent she always like to comb her “baby” doll hair and she started braiding at a very early age. She love to do hair still today but she did like to collect as well. You use your imagination very well and creative. Thanks for sharing your post!
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