{photo by Jenny Bischoff – our three kids playing together at a park}
We enjoy and appreciate the excellent education our kids are receiving here at SLO Classical Academy, but one of the best and most unique things about our school is the family time and freedom for good old-fashioned play to happen. In this day and age so many families have slammed schedules between school and activities, but our kids often have those moments where spontaneous, creative play can take over, and our hearts warm to see it.
Maybe you’ve read about the importance of play in child development, or have simply witnessed first-hand imaginative play happening around your house. Today we have a few snippets to share from parents who noticed their kids engaged in play. We hope you’ll enjoy these photos and testimonials, and stop a moment to wonder at the wholesome and encouraging play you see at home too! It sounds like a simple thing, but our kids are enjoying the best part of childhood because they have the time to play.
I LOVE that my boys love to play together. I wonder if we could do a sound bite… of the belly laughing that happens. 
Not sure how to do that!
~Kate Scott, Track B
{photo by Kate Scott}
I love to see what my boys create or come up with when they are given a large cardboard box to play with. It is completely evident that their play becomes their work. I find that they tend to adapt their creations to the things we are learning about in school or to their personal interests. I always learn a bit more about each of them when I stop to observe them playing or join in on the fun. I hope they never stop. I love the quote “We don’t stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing.” – George Bernard Shaw
~Mary Knudson, Track A
My three were playing just a few minutes ago. We finished home school this morning (light day for us) and so they were in their shopkeeper play mode. Today, Violet was running a bookstore, complete with a large supply of books and a professional checkout area with cash register and money. Daniel was running a sports store. I thought it was clever that he used his mini pool table as an iPad to ring up customers. He also had his merchandise labeled with price tags so that he would know how much to ring customers up for.
~Jill Talley, Track A
{photos by Jill Talley}
We always make time for play! When we are home, both kids still love to draw art with chalk and blow bubbles. I included this photo because both kids (ages 9 and 1) love to swing. What is better than swinging at the beach?
~Jenny Curzan, Track B
{photo by Jenny Curzan}
In the last few months, my kids (8,6, and 3) have each adopted a tree in the backyard as their “house” and play there from time to time. They have collected their special “jewels” (rocks and shiny things) which they have stashed in or near the chosen tree. They've included the two neighbor boys, who are 7 and 4, in their tree village too. When we read Roxaboxen in kindergarten, they were inspired to take their village to the next level. They gave it a name (Sapphire City) and elected a mayor (Sadie, of course) and decided eucalyptus seed pods would be their currency. I had pulled a few more shiny things out of my craft bin with the excuse of using them as manipulatives in math and then donated them to the cause. So fun to see the kids happily working together and excited to be outside.
~Jill Richert, Track A
{photo by Jill Richert, book cover source}
Our kids find funny stuff to do together. Woodchopping, wall sits, competitions, slam dunking basketballs onto the trampoline, and arm wrestling, to name a few… Sometimes they pair off but it’s so fun when all four kids come up with something to do together.
~Michelle Dorman, Track A
{photos by Michelle Dorman}
How do your kids play? Leave a comment and share the fun!
