I love these phoems
When I'm building in the block room,
Please don't say I'm "Just playing."
For, you see, I'm learning as I play,
About balance, I may be an architect someday.
When I'm getting all dressed up,
Setting the table, caring for the babies,
Don't get the idea I'm "Just Playing."
I may be a mother or a father someday.
When you see me up to my elbows in paint,
Or standing at an easel, or molding and shaping clay,
Please don't let me hear you say, "He is Just Playing."
For, you see, I'm learning as I play.
I just might be a teacher someday.
When you see me engrossed in a puzzle
Or some "playing" at my school,
Please don't feel the time is wasted in "play."
For you see, I'm learning as I play.
I'm learning to solve problems and concentrate.
I may be in business someday.
When you see me cooking or tasting foods,
Please don't think that because I enjoy it, it is "Just Play."
I'm learning to follow directions and see the differences.
I may be a cook someday.
When you see me learning to skip, hop, run, and move my body,
Please don't say I'm "Just Playing."
For, you see, I'm learning as I play.
I'm learning how my body works.
I may be a doctor, nurse, or athlete someday.
When you ask me what I've done at school today,
And I say, "I just played."
Please don't misunderstand me.
For, you see, I'm learning as I play.
I'm learning to enjoy and be successful in my work.
I'm preparing for tomorrow.
Today, I am a child and my work is play.
Mum: What did you do at playgroup today?
Child: Well, I sat at the dough table and rolled the dough in my hands. Lucy
said hers was a snake, but mine was a worm. The lady talked about
long ones and short ones and medium sized ones, and Sarah rolled her
dough so long it went right over the edge of the table.
(And no one said, ??What are you going to make? A cake would be
nice.??)
Mum: Yes, but then what did you do?
Child: I played on the trampoline and I can bounce really high.
Mum: Yes, but did you do anything today
Child: Sarah and me went to the paint table. It was lovely, all gooey and
slippery in our hands. We made lots of patterns with our fingers and
elbows. Sarah had yellow paint and I had red and mummy, do you
know what? If you mix red and yellow paint together it goes
ORANGE.....
(And no one said, ??What a mess you?ve made??!)
Mum: Yes, but what else have you done?
Child: I put on a wig and hat and pretended to be a grown-up lady.
And then did you DO anything?
At milk time I GAVE THE APPLES OUT and I didn?t drop any.
Mum: BUT did you do anything today?
Child: Sarah and me played in the sand and we had a race to see who could
make the sand wheel go the quickest.
Mum: And then what did you do?
Child: We sang some songs and then I was tired and wanted you, mummy.
The lady sat me down on her lap and gave me a cuddle while she read
the story. It was about a caterpillar. Do you know, mummy, that
caterpillars change into beautiful butterflies?
Mum: So, did you do anything today?
Child: Yes. When the lady said, ??It?s time to tidy up,?? I quickly painted you a
picture ?cos I knew you?d say.....
??WHAT DID YOU DO AT PLAYGROUP TODAY???
Oh what a busy morning I?ve been playing with the dough
And with a little help, upon a card I learned to sew.
I helped a friend ?Nurse Sarah? to perform an operation,
Then fixed the track together for my train and built a station.
I popped inside the house to make a cup of tea,
And stood beside the cooker making lunch for twenty three.
I completed three whole jigsaws and played a new board game,
And had a turn on all the bikes, the slide and the climbing frame.
I handed round the fruit at milk and snack time,
Then listened to a story and sang a nursery rhyme.
But now the mornings over and the mummies are all waiting,
I hope my mummy doesn?t say
?I WISH YOU?D DONE A PAINTING?