by Robyn Woods
“Mama, play?”
My toddler can now verbally ask for me to play with him. It warms my heart in every way possible. I do my best work when it’s animals. I can muster up a decent peacock squawk, and my back is still strong enough when he wants to play horse. Where I struggle is when it comes to action figures. I just haven’t mastered the art of Spiderman versus Green Goblin. It is imperative for me, as his mom and first teacher, to keep playing action figures even when it’s not my forte. Even though I don’t do the right villain voice and I still confuse the cars Chick Hicks and Strip “the King” Weathers, it’s important for me to put my pride aside, make the occasional mix-up and do it. The main reason for this is that most of the brain’s development takes place in the first five years of a child’s life. Play and playing with your child enhances their physical development, language skills, social skills and literacy skills. All of these are crucial in a developing child.
The quote “Play is the work of the child” can be attributed to the psychologist Jean Piaget as well as to the physician and educator Maria Montessori. Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood also had an episode titled “Play is the Work of Childhood”. While it may not be the same as balancing a budget sheet or driving a school bus, for children, play is their education and work. Playing helps children interact with the world around them. Playing with other children, and caregivers, children build relationships and social skills.
The Week of the Young Child is April 5th-11th. This week celebrates young learners as well as their caregivers and community members who help support them. On Saturday, April 12th, you can celebrate your youngest learner at a Community Celebration Event: “Celebrating Our Youngest Learners”. This free event is from 9:00 AM-12:00 PM at James Gettys Elementary School. This event is a community fair that invites young children and their families to learn about local resources and participate in hands-on activities. The library table will feature an activity based on the 2025 Pennsylvania One Book Arlo Draws an Octopus by Lori Mortensen and illustrated by Rob Sayegh Jr.
The public library is a place for learning, discovering, and exploration. Young children learn, discover, and explore when they play. When kids come to the library to “just” play they are participating in learning that goes beyond checking out books. So whether I am at home or at the library and I step on the plates of a stegosaurus or the tail of a brontosaurus I am reminded that my child and my library friends are learning.
Each one of the six Adams County Library System locations offers opportunities for kids to play. Whether it’s chugging trains along a wooden track, stacking blocks as a young engineer, or playing chef in the pretend kitchen. The library can inspire more for children than just a love of good books. The next time your child wants to play, bring them to the library.
Robyn Woods is the Youth Services Librarian/Coordinator for the Adams County Library System.