Oh Suzanne! Every time i read your writing, I feel pulled into that space of either deep comfort/relief or real poke…sometimes both at once. I don’t always respond, but i do read your work to continue to my thinking.
I’m back teaching in the ECE program and your reflections land so closely to what i am living in the lectures and in our workshop times. I find myself constantly trying to open up conversations about play—some (say i get very passionate in my discussions,:)—not as something separate or secondary, but as the very foundation of how we become, how we communicate, and how we make meaning. The compartmentalizing of subjects or ‘stations’ feels beyond limiting, especially when we know (i hope) that learning alongside children and for us, is anything but divided. What has been challenging is working alongside what students (some) have already been exposed to—‘emerging activities’, ‘planning activities’ etc… frames a disconnect, the depth and complexity of play is so much more. I often feel like I’m trying to gently unravel something. Or i continue to ask myself questions, while also making space for the new possibilities to be thinking with or to see the emergence.
I share some stories of children and my own encounters or of Acorn, of moments that resist easy categorization, in hopes that something resonates or that we can thinking further with this shift, even if it is a small one. That ‘aha’ moment i hold that as possibility. I’d love to sit and have more of this conversation. There is so much here. Thank you for sharing your work and writing in ways that always have me thinking.
I think a big problem is the fact that everyone thinks they know what play is... yet often it is a stereotyped image of play filled with bias and missing large chunks of essential information.
Another big problem is that we have all been lied to when they say that play is frivolous when frivolous is something unnecessary and a deviation from learning and work... when in reality it is the very frivolity that ensures that play is vital - the joy, and unknown reason as to why in the moment we are doing something in play flow other than for the sake of the play flow - results in our very humanness.
I agree with Rosalba: Suzanne, this text is as delightful as it is informative. As a teacher who spans ages and stages, I feel I need to take note of what happens here so that a foundation is built for later.
Oh Suzanne! Every time i read your writing, I feel pulled into that space of either deep comfort/relief or real poke…sometimes both at once. I don’t always respond, but i do read your work to continue to my thinking.
I’m back teaching in the ECE program and your reflections land so closely to what i am living in the lectures and in our workshop times. I find myself constantly trying to open up conversations about play—some (say i get very passionate in my discussions,:)—not as something separate or secondary, but as the very foundation of how we become, how we communicate, and how we make meaning. The compartmentalizing of subjects or ‘stations’ feels beyond limiting, especially when we know (i hope) that learning alongside children and for us, is anything but divided. What has been challenging is working alongside what students (some) have already been exposed to—‘emerging activities’, ‘planning activities’ etc… frames a disconnect, the depth and complexity of play is so much more. I often feel like I’m trying to gently unravel something. Or i continue to ask myself questions, while also making space for the new possibilities to be thinking with or to see the emergence.
I share some stories of children and my own encounters or of Acorn, of moments that resist easy categorization, in hopes that something resonates or that we can thinking further with this shift, even if it is a small one. That ‘aha’ moment i hold that as possibility. I’d love to sit and have more of this conversation. There is so much here. Thank you for sharing your work and writing in ways that always have me thinking.
I think a big problem is the fact that everyone thinks they know what play is... yet often it is a stereotyped image of play filled with bias and missing large chunks of essential information.
Another big problem is that we have all been lied to when they say that play is frivolous when frivolous is something unnecessary and a deviation from learning and work... when in reality it is the very frivolity that ensures that play is vital - the joy, and unknown reason as to why in the moment we are doing something in play flow other than for the sake of the play flow - results in our very humanness.
without play, we are less human.
Yes! The idea that play is unimportant or ‘silly’ is still very much the problem. The word play is tied to meaning that is not taken seriously.
I agree with Rosalba: Suzanne, this text is as delightful as it is informative. As a teacher who spans ages and stages, I feel I need to take note of what happens here so that a foundation is built for later.
play truly is the foundation of human life and flourishing