My connections to Play

 

          I was born and raised in Pakistan.  When I was young, I did not have any fancy gadgets or expensive toys. 

          I loved nature, and my parents were my big supporter and teachers. When I used to go for a long walk with my parents,  I asked many questions? Like how and why season changes? Why clouds move, and how are they formed? Why are stars seen at night and not at noon? How plants grow. My parents used to explain and answer my question thoroughly. 

           When I was young, my mother used to ask me to make bracelets of flowers; she used to give flowers and asked me if I could count flowers. I used to get busy in counting flowers and making bracelets.

 

          I was also a tomboy, used to play in the streets in front of my house. Boys used to be my play partners.

          The above photograph is showing me in my childhood. Do you see the sparks in my eyes?

 

          One of my favorite plays was Kancha. Kancha is played with marbles.

Another play which I liked most is below.

          At school, I loved playing tag, hide and seek, and especially cricket. 

         Time has changed. Electronic gadgets have taken the place of physical play. I do not see the children in the fields and parks now in the evening. They sit around the TV and watch games.

         Our childhood has moved indoors. Our children spend half the time outdoor in play what they used to do two decades back. A Kaiser Family Foundation research shows that children are spending seven hours daily on electronic gadgets. This excessive play with electronic devices is taking a toll in the shape of child obesity and lack of creativity. Even Steve Jobs, former Apple chief executive officer, was worried at this exposure of children to gadgets.

         I am sorry to admit that play has gone out of my busy life. I am no more physically active. When  I look back to my childhood days, they were the golden days of my life. I miss those golden days of play.