The Value of Play from a Guyana Immigrant Father

Recently, I read an article about Indo-Carribbean immigrants and their belief about play.  In the article, it discusses how parents in the Caribbean require young children to sit still for long periods, be neat and avoid messy play.  Parents in Guyana, Jamaica, St. Vincent and Grenadines expect preschoolers to write, to dress themselves, to read, to express themselves verbally, to identify numbers and count, to take care of themselves, and be courteous – or display manners.  In the article, they interviewed parents from these countries who had immigrated and lived in the United States for ten years raising preschool children and asked them about the value of play.  Mothers tended to believe that play had academic benefits while fathers sought out play with physical benefits.

As I read this article, I thought about a friend who is from Guyana.  He came to the United States twenty years ago and is raising his five year daughter in the United States.   As I observed the two interactions, I noticed rough and tumble play like egg fight in which they throw plastic eggs at each other or how they threw small balls up and down the stairs.  He limited her playtime and encouraged her to calm down often.  However, I also observed the importance of academics.  He allowed her to use the computer to play educational games on websites like PBS Kids and Starfall. 

My hope is to one day interview him and see how his views of play have changed throughout the year, but for right now, it is not possible.

Here are the questions that I have for him:

1.       What was play like in Guyana? 

2.       What kind of toys did you play with?

3.       What types of things did you play?

4.       Did your parents play with you?

5.       Was there a combination of play and academics when you were younger after school?

6.       Did you play with J. when you arrived in the states?

7.       What was your view of play when you first came here?  Did you think children could learn through play?

8.       How have your thoughts of play changed since you came to the US?

9.       How much time is M.  allowed to play when you have her?

10.   How much time is devoted to academics?

11.   Do you think play promotes learning?  In what ways?

Reference:

Roopanarine, J. & Jin, B. (2012).  Indo Caribbean immigrant beliefs about play and its impact on early academic performance.  American Journal of Play 4(4), 441-463.