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Introducing: Just Playing?

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just playing

The word "just" drives me batty. Seriously, when you put the word "just" in front of any verb or noun, you belittle the very thing you are talking about.  There are few things that drive me as bonkers as "I'm JUST a home daycare provider" or "I'm JUST a mom," but ultimately what really gets me going is when people unknowingly say, "Well, they're JUST playing."

YOUNG CHILDREN DO NOT JUST PLAY.


YOUNG CHILDREN PLAY.


They develop through play. They learn through play. They investigate through play. They experiment through play. They grow through play.


 A child's work is PLAY!


There has been a lot of research to support the importance of play, yet play seems to be looked down upon and opportunities for children to participate in good old-fashioned, child directed play seem to be vanishing.


PLAY IS IMPORTANT!


For this very reason, I have decided to start a new series here on the blog,


called "Just Playing?" and I'm inviting any and all of you who are play advocates to join me!


Basically, every Thursday, I am going to host a blog hop. Each participating blog will showcase a photo, short series of photos, or a short video of children playing.  There will be a brief description- just enough to set the scene.


The photos will be followed by :


We may be "just playing" but,


What are the children doing here?


What do you see?


What learning is taking place?


What skills are being practiced/developed?


For a week, you will have the opportunity to make your own observations and really advocate for the importance of the play that is taking place in the photos! Comments will be collected on all of the blogs and as a community we will build a great resource to show what is really happening when children are playing!


Are you a blogger that believes in the power of play? I'd love to have you join us! You can find a group of committed play advocates who will be participating in this journey by joining the "Just Playing?" Facebook Group.


Not a blogger? Not a problem! We would still LOVE for you to join us in advocating for play! You can stop by every Thursday and HOP from blog to blog to share your insight and help build a resource of what really happens when children play!


Stop Back on February 20th for our first hop!


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