FYI BEAUMONT
| May 2016
www.beaumont.ab.ca/fcss
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Main Feature
MAY
It is almost impossible to give a clear
the table, but, it is done for our own sake.
and concise definition of the word play
We do it voluntarily because it makes us
because there are so many variations of
feel good when we don’t have to worry
play. What one person defines as play
about time. As a matter of fact, if we are
May 1 – 7
may be very different than what play is
fully engaged we don’t even worry if we
Emergency Preparedness
to another and yet play is universal and
look good or not! Equally important is that
Week
necessary to all. Webster’s Dictionary
when we play we do it without preparation
defines play as: “to move lightly, rapidly,
and we do so with whatever is at hand. Not
etc.: to engage in recreation: to take part
only that, we want to keep doing it!
May 1 – 7 Mental Health Week
May 1 – 7 Hospice Palliative Care Week;
Play! What is it and What are the Benefits?
in game or sport: to perform on a musical
Play is absolutely essential to every
May 1 – 7
instrument: to give out sounds: to act in a
Hunger Awareness Week
specified way”.
aspect of early development and lays the
May 6th Students Against
Stuart Brown, MD and author of the book
throughout life. It underlies everything from
Drunk Driving Dodgeball
“Play” writes that he doesn’t really use an
physical health and well-being, to social
Tournament at ESBCHS
absolute definition of Play because it’s
competence, emotional maturity, language
varied, preverbal and preconscious. He
and thinking skills and communication skills
does, however give us his ideas of what
and general knowledge. Dr. Jane Hewes
the properties of play are:
who writes, “Let the Children Play: Nature’s
• Apparently purposeless
Answer to Early Learning” states that Play is
also responsible for promoting confidence,
(done for own sake)
foundation for formal learning and success
• Voluntary
creativity, scientific reasoning and abstract
• Inherent attraction
thinking.
• Freedom from time • Diminished consciousness of self • Improvisational potential
Recent neuroscientific research also suggests there are significant benefits from
• Continuation desire
spontaneous free play and that having
So what do those properties mean? Well,
more beneficial. What you play isn’t as
according to Brown, play doesn’t seem to
important as following your child’s lead
have survival value like getting us money
during play time. But most importantly
for paying the rent or putting food on
having fun together is the goal.
an adult engage in the child’s play is even