PLAY
I have been thinking a lot about the word PLAY. Spend a day with a small child and they will remind you how delightful playing can be. Kids love building things and creating colorful worlds with their imagination. They are always on the move – dancing, bouncing, flipping, and jumping. They make a lot of noise, strange sounds, and funny faces. I’ve observed kids confidently share their stories and observations without any fear of rejection or criticism.
Here are 4 things I’ve observed while being around children. These words spell P L A Y.
PRETEND – Kids enjoy making up stories and imaginary worlds in their heads.
LAUGH – Kids laugh at everything. They think the littlest things are hilarious.
ASK – Kids ask a lot of questions. Questions are normal and expected.
YELL – Kids yell and cry a lot. They tell you what they are feeling and they don’t care whether it’s a good time or not.
As adults, we stop speaking up because we don’t want to be a bother. We stuff our feelings and stay quiet to keep the peace. We stop pretending, laughing, and asking questions.
What are some ways we can continue to “play” as adults? Here is a list of ideas my 7 year old helped me make.
Ride a scooter or snow mobile
Dye your hair
Play with bubbles.
Color or draw in a sketch book.
Fly a kite
Make homemade jewelry
Do a DIY craft
Play at a park.
Get some new picture books at the library
Have a spa day.
Make a fun music playlist
Go rock climbing
Play volleyball outside.
Invite someone to your house to play together
Whatever you decide that “Playing” means for you, I hope you will intentionally work it into your life. I’d love to hear your ideas.