Article Response Paper. “Play Across the Life Cycle”. Education Essay

Article Response Paper
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Article Response Paper
“Play Across the Life Cycle”
In her article “Play across the Life Cycle: From Initiative to Integrity to Transcendence,” Elizabeth Jones likens Erik Erikson’s eight stages of psychosocial theory of development to the art of weaving where one part of the warp creates the foundation for the next until the entire clothing is finished. It dawns upon the readers that at any other moment, human beings are seeking competence and more importantly, a healthy personality. Otherwise, the inability to achieve these metrics is causation in feeling inadequate.
An infant is highly concerned with trust particularly in their immediate surrounding justifying their intensive attachment to their parents. Even then, their curiosity is unrivaled and intrinsically motivated that they seek new adventures. According to Jones (2011), some of the behaviors such as love for mountains, streams, and playing with pinecones have stuck with her. In later childhood, autonomy versus shame and doubt takes the course as the kid begins to elicit clear preferences. Lack of social skills never held Jones back as she proceeded to play with the other little girls. In this regard, she was becoming an initiative in the sense that she would establish situations that favored her progress.
Adolescence came first compelling her to create a dominant identity of herself as well as testing the waters of love and relationships. Her dating years came quick and fast as she got bored with this life and got married at 20 years. Critically, Jones had developed the sense of the self quite fast to a point that she was committed to sharing her life with another significant other. Otherwise, her early adulthood would have been characterized by major isolation that would result in distress. Middle adulthood (the 40s to 60s) encapsulates activities that extend beyond personal interests. Erik Erikson refers this to as generativity with its opposite being stagnation (Marcia & Josselson, 2013). Jones extends her skills to teaching students at Pacific Oaks Friends School. In the latter years, the elderly are in integrity versus despair situation. They reflect on the lives they have lived and will attain a sense of failure or satisfaction. Jones, on the other hand, is appreciative of the trips she has taken. Moreover, she is proud to be looking after her grandchildren.
“Twelve Key Types of Play”
Miller and Almon (2009) outline the different types of play that are apparent in Elizabeth Jones’ article discussed above. One of these categories of play is large-motor play. This type is apparent in children who are involved in activities such as climbing, running, sliding, swimming, jumping, and engaging in most levels of movement (Miller & Almon, 2009). Based on her narration, Jones used to play both in the house and backyard. Other than that, her mother used to talk to her for walks. Large-motor play is important in developing the child’s coordination, balance, and acclimate...