The thing I remember most about creative playtime when I was a child was “playing Barbies”.

That famous doll hit the toy and department store shelves in March 1959.  I was just shy of my sixth birthday.  It would be a couple of years before I would own my one and only Barbie.  I don’t remember exactly, but I think I was in third grade when that prized doll came to live at my house.  My family was visiting relatives in Chicago and my cousin, Barbara, had that beautiful, blonde, ponytailed doll that so many little girls like me wanted.  My parents finally consented to purchasing a Barbie for me and we headed to Marshall Fields.  Much to my dismay, the shelves contained no Barbies with the blonde ponytail that was the icon I had dreamed of.  Instead, a new Barbie has just been introduced donning the “bubblecut” hair style. It wasn’t exactly what I wanted, but, it was a Barbie and I became the proud owner of this popular toy.

Now what? Along with purchasing a couple of outfits to get me started, my mother sewed wonderful, tiny, doll couture to keep my Barbie fashionably in style. While I could play for hours with my doll. . .creating stories and changing her clothes; there was the excitement of “playing Barbies” with a girlfriend.  A few blocks from my house was a classmate also named, Barbara.  I would pack up my Barbie case and walk to her house for an afternoon of play in Barb’s basement.  Barb had the blonde, pony tail version AND, she had Ken.  In the background, we had the radio playing and I can still hear Petula Clark singing, Downtown, as two little girls made up dating and everyday stories and dressed and redressed their dolls.  My bubbletop Barbie as I called her is now tucked away with the fuzzy haired Ken.

A couple of decades later, my daughter would carry on that playful tradition with her many Barbies, Barbie and the Rockers and Jem dolls. Several year later my adult children placed a slim box underneath my Christmas tree.  It was a vintage, blonde, ponytailed Barbie in that black and white striped swimsuit.

What are your stories and memories and do your children "play Barbies"?

I visited my public library the other day for purposes of research.  Public libraries are a wonderful resource in our communities. One can leisurely and quietly browse through stacks of books, magazines, movies, and music. There is something magical about handing over your library card and getting all those wonderful materials in return. My library even has a little coffee shop—I imagine to compete with the retail booksellers.  As I walked down the aisles, I wondered if children today even know what the Dewey Decimal System is. So much is available on the internet and book stores. Do they even know how to locate a book in a library?

As I searched for the selections on my long list, I came across a book full of fun and silly ideas for children’s play time. Old Fashioned Children’s Games by Sharon O’Bryan contains more than 200 old fashioned children’s games, activities and songs. It showcases outside games, car games, card games, singing games and campfire songs, and party games.

In the introduction, Sharon asks, “What’s happened to old-fashioned children’s games? For centuries kids delighted in games of all sorts—running and jumping games, guessing games, sing games. These games were in integral part of their physical and psychological development.”

Electronic and computer games have all by taken over. And, although these high tech games provide some mental stimulation, they don’t encourage camaraderie, physical activity, coordination and social interaction as the old-fashioned games do. Could we lose these cherished traditions if they are not passed down?

These retro or old school games stimulate imagination, increase self-confidence, develop memory skills, and are just plain fun. As Sharon writes of playing Hide-and-Seek on a steamy summer night or creating snow angels in freshly fallen snow, memories of my childhood with my friends and brothers are rekindled.

Jump Rope, Hop Scotch, Red Rover, Jacks, Marbles, Tag, Pom Pom Pull Away, Marco Polo. . .

These games could be cool again. They are simple, inexpensive, and fun!  They allow children the opportunity to ask other children to “come out and play” in their neighborhoods and parks. They teach communication and negotiating skills and physical fitness. If there are not enough children for a particular game, children can always choose a different game and visa versa. Some games can even be played alone.

According to Peter Gray, a research professor of psychology at Boston College, Play is, first and foremost, an expression of freedom. It is what one wants to do as opposed to what one is obliged to do. The joy of play is the ecstatic feeling of liberty. Play is not always accompanied by smiles and laughter, nor are smiles and laughter always signs of play; but play is always accompanied by a feeling of “Yes, this is what I want to do right now.”

One of the careers I contemplated while in college was education.  I wanted to be a teacher as I was influenced by both my parents who were educators.  While my coursework took a different direction in communications, I have several undergraduate hours in education.  

The idea of this blog is to share articles, ideas, stories, and my thoughts about the value of play in a child's life.  Our world and lives have become so complicated and over stuffed with distractions that the simplicity of childhood seems to be vanishing.
 
You may agree or disagree.  In the end, what should be paramount is the capacity for children to be creative, imaginative, and innovative.  These elements will assist them in their lives as they grow into teens, young adults, and beyond.