Sunday, July 13, 2014


Early Play Experiences and the Value of Play

I saw this poster a little while ago, and it reminded me of how much time we had as young children to play, purely for the sake of play. it also reminded me of how much we learn and develop as we play. This is not only because I am an occupational therapist who works with children, but also because most of us do not realize at the time we are engaging in play as children, that we acquire, develop and refine skills; experience dimensions of space, depth, motion, distance, speed, quantity, volume, height, width, form, etc.; negotiate with peers and resolve conflicts; create scenarios for make believe and retell stories; figure out and learn how things work; and so much more! As we grow older, we find out what our interests are, what we are good at, and what we like to do for relaxation and leisure.

My Early Memories of Play

I do not remember much that happened before age 5 years, but my mother once told me that when I was 3 years old, I could remember all 50 states and name them in order from a map puzzle I played with. I vaguely remember the puzzle, but don't remember being able to name all the states. However, I do enjoy all kinds of puzzles and my interest in puzzles apparently was sparked and developed very early!

I was also reminded of the contribution the physical and social environment has in supporting or limiting children's play. The first home I have clear memories of living in had a large backyard with dirt, grass, a swing set, a tree to climb, and lots of space to play games with a ball, jump on a trampoline, and run around. There was also an empty lot next to our house, which served as another play space for running, riding our first tricycles and bikes, finding and letting caterpillars crawl on our hands, and exploring hidden "treasures."

My father owned and worked at a small grocery store on the corner across the street from the empty lot (he did't have to drive to work!) and my mother helped him at the store. My first playmate was my sister, who was about 14 months younger than me (and two more sisters followed a few years later). Sometimes my sister and I would play in the back stock room of the store, imagining the stacks of large unopened boxes were mountains to climb, or neat places to hide behind. For indoor play, we had toys, games, dolls, puzzles, children's books, etc., which did not have all the electronic features that come with today's toys. However, some toys and materials, such as Play-Doh, and Crayola crayons are pretty much in their same form, although these now come in all sorts of variations with a lot of extras and accompanying tools.

Play in the Neighborhood

When I was around 7 or 8 years old, our family moved to a different house. There was a small front yard with grass, a garage and another house in the back (which my parents rented for a while), and a concrete "backyard." So we no longer had a large space to play outdoors. Instead, we played with other children in the neighborhood, playing games such as hide-and-seek, kick the can, tag, hopscotch, etc., and variations thereof as we created new rules or ways to play these games. We also roller-skated, rode our skateboards, jump-roped and also rode our bicycles on trips around the neighborhood. My mother would also walk with us to a nearby park where we could play softball. We also played all kinds of board games and card games as a family. Unfortunately, many children today do not have the same degree of opportunities for outdoor play in the neighborhood due to safety concerns, lack of time, or limited contact with other families and children in the area. 

Play at School

At the elementary school I attended, the playground had sand boxes, monkey bars, swings, a slide, horizontal bars, rings, handball courts, tetherball, hopscotch, foursquare, etc., all of which we took full advantage during recess. Today some school playgrounds no longer have swings or climbing structures, or they have smaller play spaces (with safety and liability concerns given as the rationale), and some schools have eliminated recess (to have more time for academics and meeting state standards), which some experts and researchers say has an impact on students' ability to sit still, concentrate and attend to instruction in the classroom. (See http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/24/health/24well.html?_r=0, http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/123/2/431.abstract, and also see occupational therapist Angela Hanscom’s blog post at http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2014/07/08/why-so-many-kids-cant-sit-still-in-school-today/).

Recapturing Playfulness and Free Play

My sisters and I did not go to preschool, but we grew up with a huge range of opportunities for play,and we were fortunate to have had these experiences without major injuries (e.g., no broken bones). Many community preschools have wonderful play areas and there are organizations that build playgrounds using universal design for all children to access and enjoy. We also have organized sports, which have tremendous benefits for team building, discipline, and healthy competition. However, introduction to and participation in such sports at younger ages have also raised concerns about injury and safety for these young children whose brains and bodies are still developing. Children are also experiencing higher expectations and demands to perform well, to win, and do things the "right" way.

As occupational therapy practitioners, we view play as a meaningful occupation for children that promotes their development, health, and wellbeing, and perhaps more significant is the experience of "playfulness" and joy during engagement in play activities. This is especially true of free play (which does not mean there is no adult guidance or facilitation, or adult supervision when appropriate), where children get to think of, plan, create, negotiate, and problem-solve how their play unfolds and the direction it takes. Many children, including children with disabilities and special needs, are over-scheduled with little time set a side for free play; or their play time may have an emphasis on specific skill development and practice, or following an adult-directed format of what the play looks like and how the play should unfold. 

Occupation, and its role in health, is at the heart of what we as occupational therapy practitioners do in everyday practice with our patient and clients. We promote the value of achieving a balance of work (or school / learning for children), rest, and play. Our lives, including those of young children, are busy and we are involved in so many activities, including using technology and social media that take up our time. Many of us could do better to have more balance in our work/rest/play routines. Structured, organized, adult-directed play has its place, but there also needs to be a balance with opportunities for free play in a safe environment, where children can make mistakes, create a magical world, learn to resolve conflicts, or explore different roles, and be playful, have fun, and experience joy. (See an article I wrote in the March 2009 OTAC Newsletter, Play is More than Fun for Children, for more on this.)

I love to watch children at play, and it is also wonderful to see a parent or teacher on the floor with a child or group of children having just as much fun as the children! I don't necessarily remember all the specific toys and materials I played with as a young child, but I do remember the feeling of spontaneity, creativity, and fun while engaging in play activities with my sisters, children in the neighborhood and elementary school, as well as with my family. 

Sharing your Early Play Experiences

I am curious to hear from you (OTAC members and practitioners, as well as others) about your early play experiences i.e., preschool through elementary school). What are some of your memories of early play as a young child? Who did you play with and in what environments did you play? What were your favorite toys and play activities? How are children's early play experiences today different from your own experiences and those of children 10, 15, 20 years ago? What are some strategies you use to promote and keep playfulness in the lives of children, as well as to ensure you as adults have balance in your work/rest/play routines? #EarlyPlayYears  @otacpresident  @OTACNews
Pat S Nagaishi (Facebook)