Importance of Play in Times of Stress
Thursday, April 30, 2020
Last week, my neighborhood experienced severe storms which
caused my family, like many others, to spend time in our designated “safe
space”. My husband and I had to wake our children, aged 3 and 5, and take them
to the basement. Both were groggy and grumpy but not overly concerned as we
hunkered on the couch and read books. Eventually, we all returned to our beds
and the night resumed its restful tone.
The next morning as soon as they finished breakfast my
children dispersed from the kitchen and began to play. As I cleared their
morning dishes I listened as they were quickly (and peacefully!) engaged. Each
took a turn pretending to be asleep on the couch while the other would wake
them up and take them across the room to the designated “basement” and cover
them with a blanket. My 3 year old (who especially likes sound effects) created
loud BOOMING noises and my 5 year old asked him, “Is that thunder!?” He would
reply, “yeah it is, it’s really big. But you’re safe.” This game went on many
times and in different directions but with the same basic theme...there was a
storm, they were scared, they knew what to do.
They practiced and processed over and over their feelings, their
worries, and different roles in a new situation.
As an early childhood educator I’ve always been passionate
about and recognized the power and importance of play. Not only do young
children learn best through interest-driven, play based, hands on experiences
but they have the opportunity to develop social skills and process feelings. As
a parent over the last few weeks, these beliefs have never been more validated.
During this time I’ve observed my children not only play “thunderstorm” but
have also documented a house my daughter built of legos that included a
“downstairs, where the dad is on a work call, you have to be really quiet
there.” And have even watched them load up play food onto our couch pretending
“ClickList” as they take turns driving to get groceries saying things to each
other such as, “but we’re NOT going inside Henry, there are still extra germs.”
Each of these observations reminds me play is truly the work of childhood. As
children play they have a unique opportunity to “practice” and make sense of
experiences and events that feel important to them, are new (and therefore can
feel confusing or worrisome) or even stressful. The unique and different nature
of our “new normal” over the past month has created many of these opportunities
for children to work through. As adults,
whether a parent at home or a teacher soon to be reunited with students, what
can we do to support this important work for children?
Value and validate play. It can feel necessary
to add “educational” aspects to what children are doing such as counting the
food they’re serving you or labeling the shapes of blocks they are building
with (and these moments are important too!) but recognizing that sometimes just
allowing them to lead and create scenarios that are all their own is just as important.
Don’t dismiss their pretend experiences as “just playing” and remind yourself
they are processing and practicing important emotions, coping and social skills.
Listen! It’s not always an option or our role to
participate in their play but listening and taking note of what they are
pretending is helpful. Sometimes you might realize they need more clarification
about something they’ve heard or seen or that they feel more worried or
concerned than you realized about an experience. Gather this information as you
observe them play and address it through conversation later by asking them
simple questions such as “Tell me more about your thunderstorm game...” or “I
wonder why you said you were wearing a ‘scary mask’ at the grocery store?”
If possible, provide open-ended materials that
allow for a variety of play opportunities. Simple items such as legos, blocks,
stuffed animals, small dolls/characters or pretend food/kitchen tools allow
children to engage in play led by their own ideas and needs.
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Categories
General
06/05/2020 - Conversation Tips During Uncer
06/05/2020 - Simple is Enough
06/05/2020 - What’s Wrong with Telling a Ch
04/30/2020 - Importance of Play in Times of
04/10/2020 - Preschool Activities and Ideas
04/10/2020 - Engaging Your Infant or Toddle
03/19/2020 - Helping Infants and Toddlers
03/19/2020 - Helping Your Child
03/19/2020 - Helping Others Begins With Car
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03/26/2017 - A Little Lesson on Finding Joy
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