YOUTH WORK IS... PURPOSEFUL PLAY

Shall We Play? 

I really enjoyed reading this article. A quote that resonated with me is "Educators are sometimes drawn to play for the wrong reasons -- because they seek to entertain their students I sometimes hear various lay theories of "stealth learning," the idea that we can smuggle in learning disguised as play into schools and students will have so much fun that they will overcome their resistance to the schooling process." I understand why educators may do this but I think it's wrong. I don't think you should trick children into thinking they're having fun and not learning. I believe that children should know that they can learn through play. Educators should use play and playful activities in their lessons as a way for students to learn and engage with the information. Some young people learn best through play and I feel like more educators should use play in their space. Through play children develop knowledge and fundamental skills.

"A game may offer pleasure to some but with no guarantees and often a strong threat of displeasure if we lose the game. Thus, while it is very valuable to bring games into school, it is also important to provide

contexts for more free and open-ended forms of play, which can offer pleasure to all

who participate, rather than offering rewards to those who win." I resonate with this a lot too because when I was younger I would be so focused on winning the game and hated losing. I was too focused on winning the game, that I never truly enjoyed the process of playing some games. I agree that it's important to play games that are free and open-ended and can offer pleasure to everyone who plays and does not focus on rewarding those who win. 

CHILLAXING

I loved this article! I thought it was interesting that the students had their own meaning for "chillaxing". When you hear that word you assume you're just chilling and or relaxing. Their meaning for it was very deep. Their chillaxing isn't relaxing at all because they're recuperating from a "shell-shocked" day at school. "They need to do nothing because doing nothing is doing everything that they need to do in that moment." I felt that on so many levels!!! I also really loved how through her painting Alicia represents black love, innocence, and tenderness. I like how she uses art as a way to express how her and other black girls feel.