School Bells - Current Affairs – Grade 1 – Week 32
Many professionals concerned with the health of children have expressed concern about the apparent reduction in time for play for children. Many people have also lamented that adults have forgotten how to play or decided it is a frivolous activity for children and only then in limited amounts.
I am eager to hear the results of the discussion about the importance of play between these young scholars and their families.
I hear them arriving now.
Me: Good morning scholars.
Class: Good morning Mr. Jim. Cookies?
Me: No, I am sorry. I will bring some next week.
I am eager to hear what you and your families think about play and why it is important for children and adults.
Sue: At first I was thinking that I cannot play like other children because I am in the wheelchair, but my family reminded me that because I am in the wheelchair we have thought more about what I can do to play than some families. We spend lot of time exploring, laughing and playing. I can do a lot from my wheel chair. Everyone in our family also plays a lot of board games and laughs a lot.
Tara; I have a little sister. We call her the little scientist. Play is the way she discovered what she can do. She also tastes, touches, smells, and looks at everything. She also is learning how to play with other children and as with the rest of the family.
Me; I hear you saying that for your sister, play is a time when children are creative in exploring there physical abilities, how to problem solve, and how to deal emotionally with their environment and other people.
Sofia: My parents said that sometimes it is better not to think about something and while they are playing they think of how to do something.
Steve: My uncle was here for the weekend and we talked about this. He is a scientist and is looking of a cure for cancer. He says that they spend all day looking at different things. He said it is like play.
Me; It sounds as if sometimes we have to let our mind wander to find a new way to think about something.
Tommy: When I am doing homework and I get frustrated sometimes my dad tells me to take a play break. When we start homework again I try something new. He says that if we do not play we keep trying the same thing over and over again. He says that he does this at work too.
Me: Your dad sounds as if he is a wise man who knows the value of play for adults.
Tommy: When grandma and grandpa come to dinner they get big frowns all of us are so silly. Mom says that they forget how to play.
Me: Yes, when I was doing some training in California we adults had to go to a place to play. It was on the back of a barge (You know the kind that carry coal and other stuff on the Ohio river and is pushed by a little boat.). On this barge was a little house with swings, boxes of costumes and other toys. At first some of us felt silly and were shy about playing. After we played we were better at solving problems together. When we did not have a play break we sometimes got very serious and could not solve problems well.
Sam: We are silly a lot at our house and your house Uncle Jim. When we get too serious and start getting mad you always tell us to take a play break.
Ahmes: At first when we got here it was hard to laugh and play. We were very serious. Now we play more.
Me: That is great Ahmes. I wonder if the word play has gotten a bad reputation.
Sam: The word sounds as if we are acting like babies and not growing up.
Me; I think that is true for a lot of us. Yet, you and your families seem to be saying that play is essential for our health and for doing a good job at work, in school and at home.
Tommy: Politicians do not seem to play much. They are very serious. We were watching some argue the other day.
Me; That is true. Do you think they would get more work done if they took play breaks more often?
Class: Yes.
Susie: Mr. Jim, will you send a note home to our parents and tell them we need more play time instead of always doing homework or chores.
Me: Always?
Susie: Well, not always.
Me: Perhaps we need to find a way to make homework and chores more playful and still get the work done.
Sue: When I am folding laundry the cat wants to play. Sometimes it takes a long time but I finish.
Steve: Mom and dad are really silly when they are fixing dinner. Sometimes dad makes funny animals with the vegetables.
Me: Yes. We do have to get some chores done and we have to do a good job but we can also have fun a lot of the time.
This has been a great discussion. I am so proud of all of you,
Time is up. Next week I am going to recommend that we talk about how to help each other when something makes us sad. Talk with our families about how adults do this.
Tara, will you please pass out the assignment?
Ring! Ring! Ring!
Me: Have a great week.
Class: Goodbye Mr. Jim.
Written April 12, 2017
Many professionals concerned with the health of children have expressed concern about the apparent reduction in time for play for children. Many people have also lamented that adults have forgotten how to play or decided it is a frivolous activity for children and only then in limited amounts.
I am eager to hear the results of the discussion about the importance of play between these young scholars and their families.
I hear them arriving now.
Me: Good morning scholars.
Class: Good morning Mr. Jim. Cookies?
Me: No, I am sorry. I will bring some next week.
I am eager to hear what you and your families think about play and why it is important for children and adults.
Sue: At first I was thinking that I cannot play like other children because I am in the wheelchair, but my family reminded me that because I am in the wheelchair we have thought more about what I can do to play than some families. We spend lot of time exploring, laughing and playing. I can do a lot from my wheel chair. Everyone in our family also plays a lot of board games and laughs a lot.
Tara; I have a little sister. We call her the little scientist. Play is the way she discovered what she can do. She also tastes, touches, smells, and looks at everything. She also is learning how to play with other children and as with the rest of the family.
Me; I hear you saying that for your sister, play is a time when children are creative in exploring there physical abilities, how to problem solve, and how to deal emotionally with their environment and other people.
Sofia: My parents said that sometimes it is better not to think about something and while they are playing they think of how to do something.
Steve: My uncle was here for the weekend and we talked about this. He is a scientist and is looking of a cure for cancer. He says that they spend all day looking at different things. He said it is like play.
Me; It sounds as if sometimes we have to let our mind wander to find a new way to think about something.
Tommy: When I am doing homework and I get frustrated sometimes my dad tells me to take a play break. When we start homework again I try something new. He says that if we do not play we keep trying the same thing over and over again. He says that he does this at work too.
Me: Your dad sounds as if he is a wise man who knows the value of play for adults.
Tommy: When grandma and grandpa come to dinner they get big frowns all of us are so silly. Mom says that they forget how to play.
Me: Yes, when I was doing some training in California we adults had to go to a place to play. It was on the back of a barge (You know the kind that carry coal and other stuff on the Ohio river and is pushed by a little boat.). On this barge was a little house with swings, boxes of costumes and other toys. At first some of us felt silly and were shy about playing. After we played we were better at solving problems together. When we did not have a play break we sometimes got very serious and could not solve problems well.
Sam: We are silly a lot at our house and your house Uncle Jim. When we get too serious and start getting mad you always tell us to take a play break.
Ahmes: At first when we got here it was hard to laugh and play. We were very serious. Now we play more.
Me: That is great Ahmes. I wonder if the word play has gotten a bad reputation.
Sam: The word sounds as if we are acting like babies and not growing up.
Me; I think that is true for a lot of us. Yet, you and your families seem to be saying that play is essential for our health and for doing a good job at work, in school and at home.
Tommy: Politicians do not seem to play much. They are very serious. We were watching some argue the other day.
Me; That is true. Do you think they would get more work done if they took play breaks more often?
Class: Yes.
Susie: Mr. Jim, will you send a note home to our parents and tell them we need more play time instead of always doing homework or chores.
Me: Always?
Susie: Well, not always.
Me: Perhaps we need to find a way to make homework and chores more playful and still get the work done.
Sue: When I am folding laundry the cat wants to play. Sometimes it takes a long time but I finish.
Steve: Mom and dad are really silly when they are fixing dinner. Sometimes dad makes funny animals with the vegetables.
Me: Yes. We do have to get some chores done and we have to do a good job but we can also have fun a lot of the time.
This has been a great discussion. I am so proud of all of you,
Time is up. Next week I am going to recommend that we talk about how to help each other when something makes us sad. Talk with our families about how adults do this.
Tara, will you please pass out the assignment?
Ring! Ring! Ring!
Me: Have a great week.
Class: Goodbye Mr. Jim.
Written April 12, 2017
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