Every Moment Offers Opportunities for Play

By Terri Elder, Volunteer, Epworth Community Youth Center

My grandson had surgery when he was just one year old. It wasn’t his first, but it was the worst as it repaired a bi-lateral cleft pallet. Until now, he had not used his left arm much, so we were surprised at how he spent his time. I had gotten a balloon to brighten his room. Even in pain, he spent two hours pulling the string hand over hand to make the balloon come down so that he could touch it. An unplanned educational moment with a common object brought us all great joy. We watched him use his left arm in a way that was unfamiliar to him.

For all our babies, toddlers, and preschoolers, most every moment offers opportunities for educational play. They are discovering their world and are hungry for information. Objects we take for granted are new discoveries for children. When we step back and look through their eyes, we can rediscover the wonder and beauty of the world.

Flashlights on a stormy night make the light dance against a wall and provide projection for shadow animals that spur the imagination. A bright silver bowl is the helmet of Don Quixote one moment and then a container for all the little treasures found around the house. A gift box big enough to climb inside becomes a hiding place first and a castle next. These simple objects have lost their allure for us, but they are educational toys that provide hours of fun for exploring young minds.

It is important to provide our little ones with opportunities to explore their world as they try to make sense of it all. Provide simple ways to spark your children’s imaginations as they create their treasures. Everyday objects are just as important as the lights, bells, and whistles that come with expensive toys. The most important element in all play is you. As children see the delight or horror in our eyes, they learn what is safe and what is scary.

As children see the wonder in our eyes, they learn to be awed by their world. It is from your eyes they see their worth – that they matter and are important – or they see that they are in the way, unappreciated, or unwanted. Your eyes are the most important educational tools and your interaction with them is the most important educational activity.

Don’t be afraid to play with your little ones as you go through the day. Let what you are doing be both opportunities for learning and play. Enjoy seeing the wonder of the world through their eyes and invite them to discover your world. They are trusting you to introduce the world to them. One of my favorite pictures is of my three-year-old daughter making cookies with me. Today, it is even easier to bake cookies as they come ready to split apart and place on the pan. Don’t lose these precious years worrying about the right toy to buy.

The Epworth Community Youth Center is a place where Dubuque County youth can socialize in an atmosphere free from the use of tobacco, alcohol, and drugs. Every child born is our child and everything we do affects them. To learn more about the Dubuque County Safe Youth Coalition, call (563) 590-8031.