Let's Play!
This month I’ve been wrestling with the subject of ‘play’ for my current assignment. Play has been on my mind for a while; it’s one of the things that I was most excited about when I decided to retrain as a pre-school teacher, the thought of being able to facilitate play in young children, knowing its value in enriching the child’s learning experience.
Over the last few months, studying Montessori’s method has shown me that there are play opportunities in what I’d previously seen as mundane, even onerous parts of life and how what Montessori called a child’s work can be great fun. The focus and concentration is a wonder to behold in the kitchen, as my four year old grabs the mop to cheerfully wipe up the soapy floor resulting from her sister’s over-enthusiastic washing up.
As an adult, having the opportunity to join children in play is a real privilege. I remember my husband was asked at our ante-natal classes what he was most looking forward to about having our first baby; he said ‘the chance to be able to play again.’ However, sometimes, particularly at this time of year here in this particularly damp corner of the United Kingdom, providing inspiring and truly enjoyable opportunities for play can be, well, a challenge.
We’ve been spending more time than I’d like playing indoors, recently, what with the horrible weather. Following Montessori’s teachings over giving children lots of contact with the outside world and plenty of fresh air has been quite a trial.
I think most people who care for pre-schoolers would recognise this picture; spending what seems like hours encouraging everyone to get dressed up in warm, waterproof clothing; trying not to communicate the inner dread you’re feeling as you look out of the window at the howling gale and driving rain. Finally herding the children out of doors, whether it be into a garden, or for a walk further afield and within what seems like micro-seconds hearing the cry ‘I want to go back’. It’s certainly hard work at times. Attempting to whip up some enthusiasm in the children for the natural world around them at this time of year when things look so soggy and dead, I find myself doing rather a lot of forced jollity, while dreaming of hot chocolate and a nice sit down by the fire.
Today, once again, we hauled on our waterproofs and set our collars against the wind, tramping through the mud for a somewhat shorter play outside than I’d have ideally liked. This time, though, it wasn’t such hard work. Yes, admittedly, my wellies had sprung a leak. But playing outside, even in dismal weather – can be great fun. Jumping in puddles, squelching through mud, spotting the last of the berries on the hawthorn bush, identifying the ‘voice’ (copyright my four year old) of a blackbird and best of all – finding treasure. Gold. The sight of the first daffodil on a bank, cheerfully trumpeting that Spring is indeed, just around the corner.
I hope you are finding some good play opportunities in your part of the world – please share them in the comments below!
