It is no secret that our staff knows I am challenged by the annual offering of Summer Enrichment Camp (5 weeks this year, 7:30a-3p, June 13-July 15). It is a personal challenge for me to stoically accept the sound of a large group of children playing. I confess as I approach 60, large gatherings that are extremely noisy put me on edge. While I limit large gatherings of adults, I undertake each year’s summer offering from a place of joy. It is a honest internal feeling that what happens when children participate in free play, no matter where, it builds character. Play is essential to developing character because it contributes to the cognitive, physical, social, and emotional well-being of children. Free Play (no adults directly involved) is where we first learn to be in community, develop the rules of the community, self-enforcing them, and rendering decisions of rule breaking consequences.
Yes, all the noise and activity of children playing puts me on edge, but joy fills my heart. I joyfully know children learn how to regulate fear, anger, and other emotions while playing with other children doing the same thing. Free Play (unstructured by adults) is child-driven play. It is not the kind of play that is controlled by adults, and it does not include passive play, think video screen. Free Play at Dakota Center is supervised by adults, especially when we are outside. Adults are monitoring not controlling. Big difference there. Joy because I am certain that Fr. Hoelle, our founder, knew that having a place like Dakota Center where unstructured (but supervised) play lets our kids explore their imagination and the things around them.
Joy because free play is also fun, and all that running, throwing, basketball playing, biking, screaming, yelling, and jumping kids often engage in helps build healthy bodies. That’s a significant benefit, considering that 20% of American children are obese. Many experts attribute the dramatic rise in childhood obesity and the decline in physical fitness at least partly to the decline in outdoor play. Joy that children’s work is play. Yes, it is noisy, messy, and sometimes supervisors need to intercede, however, free play is important because it gives them a sense of freedom and control. It also allows them to learn about themselves, what they like and don’t like, and even make mistakes without feeling any pressure or failure. Joy that such activities build character and connect community. What I personally have to endure is a small sacrifice for the joy that fills my heart and soul. I am blessed to have such an opportunity. Now, where are my ear plugs!?!
