“Play is often talked about as if it were a relief from serious learning. But…for children, Play is serious learning. Play is really…the work of childhood.”
—Mister Rogers
While at our daughter Michelle’s mother-in-law Kim and husband AL’s home waiting for Michelle and her husband Kyle to bring home their new born daughter
Emmeline (Emmy) from the hospital recently, Lyla was keeping busy playing with her toys. I happened to see a plastic bag with a stethoscope in it off to the side behind a doll house Kim and AL bought for her and I made mention of it.
Reacting to my interest in it, she walked over to her doctor’s kit and began to unpack it. AL helped put her doctor’s white coat on. She then picked up her stethoscope, put on her doctor glasses and walked over to me to give me an examination. She had an
Otoscope, a medical device that she employed to examine my ears. The doctor’s kit really fosters great imaginative play. I was fascinated how engaged she was in playing the role. Mr. Rogers was right, Play is serious learning.
Here are some photos I took of our granddaughter, Dr. Lyla Lewis and a photo that was taken of her examining my ear very intently. When I went home, it made me search for my first doctor’s bag while I was a student at the Illinois College of Podiatric Medicine in Chicago. I can’t wait to share it with her. A real stethoscope that will enable her to hear a real heart beat. As far as our dreams for Lyla, as grandparents all we wish for is that she be healthy, happy, giving, curious, vibrant, and good things will come her way.
