Take Good Care

What’s on your to-do list today? Exercise, bills, meetings, maintenance? How many to-do's are associated with a specific result or goal? Consider adding something just for fun. Consider the power of play.

Positive Play Coach Jeff Harry states, “Play is an action you do that brings you a significant amount of joy without offering a specific result.” And yet, setting aside specific goals to invite room for open-ended, joyful activity can bring us – and our world – a surprising amount of good. Glory Ressler writes, “We understand that children learn how to interact and engage with others through play and thereby come to know more about themselves and the world. Play also provides an opportunity to release energy, build confidence and self-esteem, unleash creativity and self-regulate. It is a means of expression, enjoyment and, often, indoor and outdoor physical activity.
However, if children need these skills to prepare for an unknown future and can obtain them, in part, through play, then I believe that now more than ever, educators and caregivers from across the world also need the same skills and opportunity…Are we not all being called in one way or another to learn and develop our social intelligence, creativity, cross-cultural competence and resiliency?”

In a world full of unpredictability and conflict, perhaps it’s time for us all to start taking play more seriously. What value does play have in your life? Who will you play with today, and how? Join in the fun and share your thoughts in the comments.

Ressler’s article is part of the Exchange Essentials article collection, “Caring for Yourself and Your Team.”

For more information about Exchange's magazine, books, and other products pertaining to ECE, go to www.ccie.com.

© 2005 Child Care Information Exchange - All Rights Reserved | Contact Us | Return to Site