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Thursday, December 24, 2015

10 Wonderful Quotes on the Power of Play

Photo by Alberto P. Veiga (Flickr)

I support play because it's beneficial for our kids. I'm not the only play advocate in the world, though. Hundreds of play fans support a child's right and necessity to play each day. Here are 10 wonderful quotes by influential men and women from the past and present who also think play is a powerful activity for our kids.

1. "Play is our brain's favorite way of learning." (Diane Ackerman)

Play time isn't solely about fun and games. While building a block tower, figuring out how to put a puzzle together, or learning how to jump rope, our kids must concentrate, think, and problem-solve. They're doing hard but rewarding and fun work.

2. "Almost all creativity involves purposeful play." (Abraham Maslow)

Any artist, writer, or problem-solver will tell you that creativity is a job requirement. Since I want my girls to think outside the box now and in their adult lives, I'll gladly advocate for more play time today!

3. "Play fosters belonging and encourages cooperation." (Stuart Brown, MD)

I've seen firsthand that kids build friendships, learn social skills, and develop the ability to cooperate, compromise, and work together with others as they play. I'm thrilled that play helps kids become socially confident.

4. "Play matters because it creates an opportunity to bring out the best in every kid, and it's an opportunity for kids to really see the best in themselves." (Jill Vialet)

Our kids learn if they're good at sports, drawing, or engineering as they play. I'm not one for rushing my girls to grow up or choose a career, but I want to equip them for success by encouraging play.

5. "Children need the freedom and time to play. Play is not a luxury. Play is a necessity." (Kay Redfield Jamison)

It breaks my heart every time I hear a story about kids losing recess or play time. Play is essential, and experts agree that kids should play every day no matter what else is going on.

6. "Creative people are curious, flexible, persistent, and independent with a tremendous spirit of adventure and a love of play." (Henri Matisse)

If you've ever watched a creative person at work, you know that they're curious, flexible, persistent, and independent. They also know how to play. I figure we should nurture a playful attitude in our kids now so that they grow up to be playful and creative adults.

7. "When children pretend, they're using their imaginations to move beyond the bounds of reality. A stick can be a magic wand. A sock can be a puppet. A small child can be a superhero." (Fred Rogers)

I know two superhero girls who can turn anything into a toy. My daughters are two of millions of kids who use their imaginations as they play.

8. "Children have always learned and created places for themselves through play." (Donna R. Barnes)

Whether they're hiding in a basement tent fort or improvising scripts for theatrical performances, children use play time to discover who they are and where they belong in their homes, communities, and world.

9. "Play is the beginning of knowledge." (George Dorsey)

Our kids learn everything from how to ride a bike to how to take turns as they play! It provides children with an influential classroom that's also fun.

10. "It is in playing, and only in playing, that the individual child or adult is able to be creative and to use the whole personality, and it is only in being creative that the individual discovers the self." (D.W. Winnicott)

I've watched hundreds of kids develop better self-worth and discover their talents, gifts, and interests as they play. Your kids probably will, too.

Play time is not idle or mindless time. It's powerful for your kids now and into their future. I hope you've enjoyed these 10 wonderful quotes about the power of play. How will they change your philosophy about play time for the kids you love?

Find more about the author: Kim Hart

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