Just Playing

Preparing for a talk on how children learn through play, I was searching for a favorite poem.  I wish I could give credit to the author, but I cannot find one listed.  I wanted to share it with you...

JUST PLAYING

When I’m building in the block room, please don’t say I’m “Just Playing.”
For you see, I’m learning as I play about balances and shapes.
Who knows, I may be an architect some day.

When I’m getting all dressed up; setting the table, caring for the babies,
Don’t get the idea I’m “Just Playing.”
For, you see, I’m learning as I play;
I may be a mother or father some day.

When you see me sitting in a chair, reading to an imaginary audience.
Please don’t laugh and think I’m “Just Playing.”
For, you see, I’m learning as I play;
I may be a teacher someday.

When you see me combing the bushes for bugs,
Or packing my pockets with choice things I find; don’t pass it off as “Just Play.”
For, you see, I’m learning as I play:
I may be a scientist someday.

When you see me engrossed in a puzzle or some “plaything” at my school,
Please don’t feel the time is wasted.
For, you see, I’m learning as I play. I’m learning to solve problems and concentrate.
I may be in business some day.

When you see me cooking or tasting foods,
Please don’t think that because I enjoy it, it is “Just Play.”
I’m learning to follow directions and see differences.
I may be a cook someday.

When you see me learning to skip, hop, run and move my body;
Please don’t say I’m “Just Playing.”
For, you see, I’m learning as I play; I’m learning how my body works.
I may be a doctor, nurse or athlete someday.

When you asked me, what I’ve done at school today,
And I say “I just played”; please don’t misunderstand me.
For, you see, I’m learning as I play.
I’m learning to enjoy and be successful in my work;
I’m preparing for tomorrow.
Today, I am a child and my work is play.

I am glad that my own children have grown up surrounded by people who believe in the value of play.  My own thirteen year old did not hesitate to pick up her new cell phone and in a matter of a day, she has figured out more than I know about my own phone.  "How did you learn all that so quickly", I asked her.  "I just played with it," she confidently answered.  

I hope you have found some time to play today.

The Pumpkin Process

Another guest post from one of my colleagues, Lini Ecker from Community Cooperative Nursery School.  

I tried a new activity this week that was so simple and such a hit with almost every child in my 2s class that I wanted to share it. We painted pumpkins with fat brushes then put the painted pumpkins in the water table with soapy water, sponges and pitchers for the children to wash. 

We dried the pumpkins with a towel and moved them back to the painting table to start over again. I had anticipated resistance to washing their finished pumpkins and offered to take photos to show parents, but none of the children cared about this. Some children carefully painted and then washed one pumpkin repeatedly. Others only wanted to paint or only wanted to wash happy to pass it off to another child. Some children worked in pairs on the same pumpkin. One child who didn’t want to get wet or messy was happy to dry off the bubbles from the washed pumpkins.

 It is still very early in the school year and I was pleased to see how much cooperative play this activity encouraged. It is also a great illustration  of the importance of process over product. 

Fence Weaving

Our outdoor classroom experience always includes an art component.  This week with the possibility of some rainy days and focusing on continued fine motor development, we turned a section of our wire fence into a giant loom.

I purchased five plastic table cloths of various colors from the dollar store and cut them up into long strips.  I tied the strips to the top of the fence along a fifteen foot section.  Then I wove a few pieces into the fence in front of a few children.  The activity caught on.

The children noticed so much as they weaved.  "Hey, mine is getting shorter!"  "My (ribbon) is longer than yours!"  "Look how long this is, it reaches way out here."  "Why isn't mine that long?"  "I'm sewing down."  "I am bringing this across, way over here."

The comparisons and use of spatial terms was incredible.

It was also a good fit for a playground as it had the children moving up and down, in and out with both fine and gross motor muscles being used.  They were able to weave, go run around, come back to add more, go get a friend, add a few more strips and move on to something else.  Because the strips were plastic, we did not need to worry about what the rain would do and we left the project out for other classes to add to.

The effect gives the feeling of a terrific, happy New Year's Eve party.

I think getting it off will be another engaging experience all together!