Where I startedWhen I first began my career in education, I followed my love of children to a kindergarten classroom in Westport, Connecticut. There, I learned the incredible power of play: uninterrupted, unbridled play. Outside, with friends, inside, alone, anywhere--play, wild and free, allows children to just be. Problems are started, solutions are found, friendships are forged, and lessons are learned. Play is accessible, play is free, and play is a way that children can grow without fear of making mistakes or awareness of expectations. Play allows kids to be kids.
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Where I amNow, in my position at a college, this truth still holds. Yes, these students are older, wiser, and arguably more self-aware than their 5-year-old counterparts. Yet, play remains, as academic exploration and interdisciplinary thinking are key. In college, play can be taking a class outside of one's comfort zone. It can mean sitting with a new group of friends on the first day of a fresh semester, discussing the latest lecture. Sure, play may no longer includes blocks or crayons, but play can still be collaborative, engaging, and an incredible tool for a student discovering the world.
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