This I Believe

Museum Director Janice O'Donnell recorded an essay about her belief in the power of play for the This I Believe - Rhode Island program on WRNI, our NPR station. It aired recently and you can listen to it through WRNI's website. Janice shared the following in a recent email:

I've received some nice feedback on the WRNI piece. I love that it compelled people to share their own play memories and reflections! Here are some:

Hello Janice

Wanted to tell you how much I enjoyed your essay on play on WRNI. It reminded me of my childhood play with my neighborhood friends exploring in the woods and creating a museum in my friends garage of all the things we found in nature. Toys were unneccessary to our creativity and enjoyment. My children were fortunate to have that experience, as well. We lived in a neighborhood with a cul de sac around the corner filled with 8 - 12 children of various ages. They always found inventive and imaginative ways to play using nature as their tool box.

Marie

Dear Janice,

I listened in this morning and thought it was wonderful. I love that the segment has individuals present their own work. It makes it so much more alive and meaningful. Of course, I especially enjoyed your sharing today.
Giovonne
we enjoyed hearing your essay. thanks for not mentioning your cousin who always wanted to be a lamb. MGS

Janice, loved your piece on "play." Brought back golden sprinkled memories of childhood in New England forests, streams and fields. Skating and hockey on frozen ponds, paths leading to "monsters" surely, caves that could become small houses - good grief, so wondrous. I am sad that my grandchildren spend all of their after-school hours in homework, if not already involved in organized activities. One of my children, an msw married to a psychologist, has managed to effect changes in the homework requirements of the school their daughter attends. It was a monumental job but they are satisfied with the result and feel that parents have to become involved in order to free their kids from the competition that should NOT begin in first grade! Thanks for the lovely trip back to my child, who is still there in this 76 year old person! Roberta

These photos, by Susan Sancomb, are on display in the
Museum's new Play Power exhibit.