The Value of Play

I had the privilege of hearing a young lady in our second grade recite the following poem. Not only was the recitation well done; I was reminded of the value of stories and free play in our children’s lives. Read and imagine!! 

People think it's only a garden,

With roses along the wall;

I'll tell you the truth about it

It isn't a garden at all!

It's really Robin Hood's forest,

And over by that big tree

Is the very place where fat Friar Tuck

Fought with the Miller of Dee.

And back of the barn is the cavern

Where Rob Roy really hid;

On the other side is a treasure chest

That belongs to Captain Kidd.

That isn't a pond you see there,

It's the ocean deep and wide,

Where six-masted ships are waiting

To sail on rising tide.

Of course it looks like a garden,

It's all so sunny and clear ---

You'd be surprised if you really knew

The things that have happened here! 

-- The Secrets of Our Garden, Rupert Sargent Holland

For more thoughts on the value of play: Corey Shuffle