The Importance of Play

There are many misconceptions of what play is, it can be mistaken as being an antinom of work, and people consider play as being something one does while being immature and believe that play is grown out of as one grows up. Psychologists, Gaskins, Haight and Lancy studying play in relation to culture identified three cultural views of play that impact children's play. The first is culturally curtailed play, the perception that some pre-industrial societies have; which is that play has limited value but is tolerated, although certain types of play are discouraged. For example, in Mayan studies performed by Gaskins in 2000, in the Yucatan, she found that the pretence involving any kind of fiction or fantasy was considered telling lies. The second cultural view on play is called culturally accepted play. The view that some pre-industrial societies parents have, which is that play is expected of children. The parents view play as useful to keep children busy and out of the way until they are old enough to be useful. However the parents don't encourage it or participate. Consequently, children play more with other children. The third cultural view on play is culturally cultivated play; this view is pertained by middle-class euro-American families. To parents play is a child's work, and is encouraged. Adults view play as important and believe it is important to participate as well. The word play is a noun as well as a verb, the online dictionary definition of play is an exercise or activity for amusement or recreation to amuse one, and to take part or engage in a game. According to WCBC, play is defined as what children want to do and what they choose to do when given the freedom, independence time and space to determine their own behav...

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...101-129) Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum.

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