Wednesday, October 23, 2002
The Fun only Stops if you let it
A correspondent adds to a dialogue we're having about Play Deprivation on a message board called "Footprints in the Wind":
"Take away the free play and my son would never have warmed to the concept of preschool. Free play and creative art projects were what he experienced on his first half day and I am certain that is what made the transition acceptible to him. It introduced and socialized him to his teacher and fellow classmates. He normally has little desire for social interaction outside of our home. I feared his introduction to "school" would not go well, but play was the transition factor! I propose that the decision makers for the removal of recess were bottom line thinkers who have no day to day contact with anyone under the age of 18!
"...we do themes at work when things are dull or when things are dicey. Silly hat day, Happy Campers (Flannel shirts, jeans, boots...smores! We even put a tent up in the middle of the workfloor..this was a time when we were all having to work long hours and joking about "living" at work.) We do themed lunches/dinners...the night I returned from maternity leave my coworkers threw a potluck and all the foods had to start with "B" for Barb. When a boss retired who was German we did our theme was "Goodbye Ol' German Guy" (had his full approval) you name a german food dish and we had it. This month we are doing a "new recipe" potluck...you must bring a dish you've never tried before. The boss is away for a week...I have already secured some Search/Rescue police tape to stretch across her office doorway...the fun only stops if you let it! "
"Take away the free play and my son would never have warmed to the concept of preschool. Free play and creative art projects were what he experienced on his first half day and I am certain that is what made the transition acceptible to him. It introduced and socialized him to his teacher and fellow classmates. He normally has little desire for social interaction outside of our home. I feared his introduction to "school" would not go well, but play was the transition factor! I propose that the decision makers for the removal of recess were bottom line thinkers who have no day to day contact with anyone under the age of 18!
"...we do themes at work when things are dull or when things are dicey. Silly hat day, Happy Campers (Flannel shirts, jeans, boots...smores! We even put a tent up in the middle of the workfloor..this was a time when we were all having to work long hours and joking about "living" at work.) We do themed lunches/dinners...the night I returned from maternity leave my coworkers threw a potluck and all the foods had to start with "B" for Barb. When a boss retired who was German we did our theme was "Goodbye Ol' German Guy" (had his full approval) you name a german food dish and we had it. This month we are doing a "new recipe" potluck...you must bring a dish you've never tried before. The boss is away for a week...I have already secured some Search/Rescue police tape to stretch across her office doorway...the fun only stops if you let it! "
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