Student writings featured in international publication

Nine undergraduate students at Bloomsburg University had their Memories and Reflections on Play Essays accepted for publication in the peer-review International Journal of Play in the past two semesters. The essays will appear in upcoming issues of the journal in both print and online formats.

The published students include Mariah Brouse, Alaina Dorans, Petra Hester, Sofiyah Ibidunni, Taylor Montana, Stephanie Roque, Courtney Snyderman, Erianna Taulton, and Gabrielle Zukowski.

Courtney Synderman, a senior early childhood education and special education dual major, wrote about her experience in the hospital when she was diagnosed with Kawasaki Disease, a rare disorder in which her lymph nodes attacked the arteries surrounding her heart and would not allow blood to reach other areas of her body.

Visiting the Child Life Room of the hospital every day during her treatment majorly impacted her outlook and controlled her fear, she said. She chose to write about this experience to show the significance of play in helping children to cope with difficult experiences.

In her essay, Mariah Brouse, a junior early childhood education major, shared her childhood memory of Memorial Day, a special day for her because she comes from a military family. She said, “Memorial Day is still my favorite time of the year and something I will cherish for the rest of my life.”

Brouse shared that her within her major, she focuses a lot on the importance of play not only for the development of the child, but for the adult as well.

Petra Hester, a senior early childhood education major, wrote about how her parents provided her with a unique play experience by giving her and her sister the freedom to explore the world around them, using available materials to create their own playscape.

“I focused on this area of my life because I feel that children are too restricted in their play. Often, parents try to protect their children to the extent of limiting their exploration, but my play experience shows how you can let your children explore the world around them safely,” said Hester.

Reflecting on her childhood experiences and how they compare with those of the modern child helped to prepare her for a career as a teacher and improved her work ability in her current role as the Nature Director at Camp Ware, she said.

Junior communications student Erianna Taulton wrote about a summer day that stands out to her because of the simplicity of childhood and the innocence of childhood rivalries.

“My publication is unique because it explores rivalry, confrontation, and betrayal in the most innocent way possible, demonstrating what we as adults still go through at a more intricate level and how much easier things were when we were young,” said Taulton.