Play and The Power of Words

For our first born son, 'play' became the critical instrument of language. The year was 1979. (His early arrival- 3 months prematurely- signalled a long journey towards language acquisition, proficiency and learning). ... I remember well his homecoming -two months later, one month ahead of his original due date. Here was this tiny, vulnerable human being-(5 pounds, 2 ounces)- requiring 24 hour care and intensive therapy, lasting five years. He was considered a high risk child, then, a candidate for special education, later. How could we help him ? An inner peace enveloped me that afternoon as I held him and gazed into his face and wondered, “What could we give him that would last a lifetime?” Then, I knew. It would be a ‘mind of his own’, the gift of the spoken word! 

Words, thoughts and ideas would give him the power and ability to make responsible choices for his long term health, life success and happiness. (Nothing or no one could match wits with the power of the human mind to defend itself).. (Today, he is 'Mall Cop's' dad, whose comedic transformation, from time to time, reminds me of Bob Hope, the greatest comedian of all of the last century)...

When we enter a child’s world of play, it is with reverence that we stay. There are no rules! We need only pay homage to this 'early adult' that stands before us, engaged in sounds and words, the result of the young burgeoning mind steeped in experiential learning. We listen and wait to be admitted into the magical world he has created. We are a part of the beginning of his thought process, a witness to his learning. When other children are present, we ask permission to join them. ... They are in charge. They must be for they are in the world of their own making. We are simply visitors to this special place. ... 

Language in ‘play’ is language in context. It is within these meaningful moments of the spoken word, aligned with movement, that children learn the valuable lessons of language and the power they wield!. Basic fundamentals of language begin with these special spontaneous moments from which noises and human sounds emanate. From there we have words, phrases, then complete thoughts. We set the course. The modelling of language begins here. ...

At-risk children require a more direct, concerted approach to the building of their vocabulary, a major component to language acquisition. (It is critical that words are spoken not how they are spoken.) The 'putting of words into their mouths' creates a unique path to learning and helps to introduce them to foreign words of all types. 

This physical act of pronouncing new words is not an easy task, but a task, nonetheless, and an important learning step. It is a form of brain re-structuring, the result of brain use when new/foreign words are heard, then spoken. Here, the auditory sense is stimulated as it would be in music. ... Allowing our child the freedom to explore during play and in his surroundings assists in the building of his short term and long term memory/vocabulary and the scaffolding of language. The tools of this early language delivery system is helped by engaging with other children, using wooden blocks/ Lego, music, large crayons, paper, the hands, questions, Mother Nature and a caring adult- the greatest toy ever devised. ..("Caring for/ "Life of a Preemie"-07/08-2012,"Speech Therapy"-06-2012 and "Special Education"-04-2012)

Play is an instrument of thinking, learning, quiet introspection and having fun. It is a fundamental, concrete component in this childhood journey towards language acquisition, lifelong learning and mental health. Children learn from each other all the time and sometimes, the greatest lessons are gleaned from this unique interaction with one another. When children vocalize later than expected, is it  because they are too busy watching, listening and doing?  We must be patient. ... For it is play, this very powerful mechanism of learning about life and other children that helps unleash the creativity and the power of the spoken word within each child. There is no substitution for that!
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'When Mall Cop is There'

There he stood in his black regalia, overlooking the crowd, watching out for ‘him’, his adoring fan, his overbearing, annoying, 55-pound cousin: our 6-month-old 'infant' male retriever! He was never quite sure what to expect from this newest member of the family. ...  At 3 years old, standing 10 inches tall and weighing 20 pounds, this diminutive apparition - Mall Cop - knew and understood his mandate: to protect his baby sister, also, a 6 month old 'infant' but weighing only 12 pounds, from this lovable 55 pound menace of the ‘yard’. He is Mall Cop, after all, a name coined by his doting parents!

Mall cop, my 3 year old ‘grandson’, a Pomeranian/Terrier mix, is a force to reckon with, a solitary man, whose view of the world is simple: "Mess with me, squirt, you mess with me". ... Any attempt to thwart his authority will be meted out by a growl, a chase, a few well placed nibbles, in rapid succession. In his world, size does not matter. He is, after all, Mall Cop, a security unit of one. My husband and I have been the owners to a host of retrievers for over 40 years. Our pet family has now grown to include Mall cop, and his sister -Miss E.- a mini schnauzer, the other 'infant' in our family. ... (10 year old kitty cat just sits, watches and waits for the energy to dissipate knowing Mall Cop is there.)

Babysitting all four dogs brings new meaning to chaos. With a mix of genders, breeds, sizes, ages and personalities, every day is a chaotic reminder that Mall cop is near to help ‘mind the pen’. My initial fear has now been replaced by mind numbing fatigue! Each pup brings new meaning to love, warmth, humour and a strict adherence to protocol. ... Our 6-month-old male retriever spends his waking hours, walking and licking, in air-biting play, while wiggling to the absurd. He is our Mr. Wiggles. His playmate, his petite 6-month-old mini schnauzer cousin, engages with him in seeming mindless play, every which way, with the many rubber toys/ squeaky balls that lie in wait for their playing enjoyment in the yard. She snaps at her cousin's attention- if taken too far. What lady wouldn’t? Then enters, Mall cop, her brother, a lovable man of mystery, reason and action. “Enough, already” he seems to say. “Unhand her, sir”, he continues, as our 6-month-old retriever touches his little cousin, momentarily, in biting play. The animation stops, suddenly, when ‘The Law’ appears reminding all that the final decree rests with me! ... As night time approaches, however, quiet time is announced. Exhaustion has arrived for animal and human alike. Morning will soon be here and the mayhem of a another day will begin, with Mall cop on duty, once more. (The oldest, the 74 pound, 5 year old female retriever, is disinterested with all she sees and leaves all to their own personal trials and daily dilemmas.)

It is chewing time, now, a moment replayed over and over again. It is a time of co-opertive play and teeth cleaning/gum massaging. ... All were busy. Suddenly two new tapered antler bones, of different sizes, were introduced into play. ... These objects of chewing delight became the most sought after instruments of chewing 'candy' and desired by all. ... (These elk and deer antlers are well known today for their chewing safety and health benefits, with added minerals.) . ... Four dogs, two bones, made the next scene rather challenging. Brother was paired with sister to help diffuse the tension, while waiting in line! ... With a room full of objects to chew, it was a crisis for these furry little creatures when only two 'choice' antlers were available. Eventually, each duo  had their allotted chewing time with the gum massaging, non-splintering, mineral based delights. A quiet time unlike any other! ... I was witness to an amazing feat of self control from the doggy world! Not a growl, toothy grin, snap or gnashing of teeth from any of these energetic, bone loving creatures, as each waited for their turn at the chewing carousal. Give them what they need! ... They will give you what you want!


Knowing and understanding the quirks of my furry children and grandchildren helps in my role as doggy day care provider. Insecurities and uncertainties help create the doggy dilemmas we encounter. In working with dogs, consistency and boundaries are imperatives in helping them develop into well adjusted lovable family companions. In our case, no matter what, Mall Cop is there!

Special Education: A New Day, A Radical Approach

A new school year is here. For children, whose learning styles are a challenge to educators, that first day of school can be a date with the unknown, fraught with fear, excitement and a whole mix of feelings in between.  The stomach says it all.  As the student enters the classroom, that first day, let it be with awe, the feeling that says that what you are about to experience is like nothing you have ever experienced before. ("We're Smarter Than Adults"-9/2012, A Hat, A Mat and Music, 5/2012)

Let music be a part of the school day from the beginning.  Music has a profound effect on the brain, a calming or energizing welcome to the beginning of a new day. (The type of music will decide the effect on the brain and body.) ...  In a special education class, music should be the order of the day, as it relieves the stress that may be present in the young at-risk mind.  (A ‘snack’ bar containing homemade food, fruit and veg. should be available. Pizza, doughnuts and freshly made pasta-all class made- can be  available or sold, a reminder of the learning outcomes of the class.) The special ed. classroom should be like home in all ways possible.

Within the confines of the classroom environment, it is the teacher, the student’s trusted advisor, who sets the tone and steers the classroom in the direction of its learning goals. Let the teacher, whose years of training for this monumental undertaking, have the freedom to do what must be done: to extract all there is from each child amid the chaos and silence that sometimes reside inside his mind!

From 9:00 a.m. until 10:00 a.m., it is tea time, a period of calm, the planning of the day's events, tasting, and music appreciation.  It is a structured time for listening and conversation, valuable skills learned early in life. Let us not be haste in our judgement of what is happening or not happening within the walls of this classroom. There is a plan. (The teacher knows it as does the principal. She is a trained professional) Let us not be in a hurry to introduce the alphabet and numbers, the foundation upon which words, thoughts, thinking and learning are based. For special children, a different approach is required that softens their view of school and their place within it ... For the rest of the school day, let it be a softened approach with music at its core.

The at-risk child is many things. He is young, awkward, shy, aggressive, has poor self esteem, attention and memory skills.  He manifests moments of genius, occasionally, but no one fully understands the complete picture. He is at the mercy of those who put him on a waiting list for testing to determine what problems are hampering his learning ability. So we wait.  Let us assume there is a problem and act accordingly. ... The Arts are the secret weapon in the teacher’s arsenal of teaching strategies and tools for those at-risk students. Studies have shown the powerful influence of The Arts on academic learning. Music can begin, simply, as a theater for listening and movement. The lessons are not important. Structure is.  The whole body must be prepared for the vast universe of learning that will occur. (Do not focus simply on the brain. There is a body attached!)...

Ask teachers what is best suited for their class and they will tell you-just leave me alone to do my work. Let music rule the day. Let its companions- listening, singing, and movement- become as much a part of the elementary school curriculum as the letters of the alphabet and numbers always have been. Preparing the whole body helps to prepare the whole brain for the job that awaits: higher order thinking/academic learning. (Music is math. Singing is words.) Together they become an invincible dynamic duo. Let the music play!