This is a picture of me in a muddy puddle.
Me as an adult.
Me as a parent.
Me as a youth leader.
Me as the soon to be founder of Rama Life.
I didn’t “need” to climb on the slippery, muddy mound.
I certainly didn’t “need” to remain sat in it.
But aside from the uncontrollable laughter in the moment, I purposefully took a few moments to be. To literally “sit” in the moment.
The joy it brought was immeasurable (as was the hilarity in trying to get up!).
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As adults, especially if we are caring for someone, be it a friend, a partner, an ageing parent or simply by being a parent, the concept of play can become alien.
In fact, it is even the case that play is being removed from our children at an ever earlier age as we try and get them holding a pencil, learning their phonics and info smart school shoes (that are totally impractical for lots of game play!).
I have heard 8-year-olds told they are “too old for dolls” and that role play is “babyish”.
If our young children are being discouraged from playing, what hope is there for us adults?
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Play is crucial for health!
Play helps keep our brain “stretchy” – it keeps everything well-oiled and updated, creating new pathways and correcting damaged ones (old mindsets).
- Play can help us move in different ways and keep our flexibility (such as dance, sports etc).
- Play can make us feel “alive”, which when you are doing a lot of giving in your life, can be so essential.
- Play can help us learn so much – from new skills to resolving problems (movement and being outside especially helps with this).
Children learn so well through play, far better than from excessive instruction. Play leads to inventions and discoveries!
- Play helps us battle anxiety, stress and depression – something that is becoming all too common in our society of financial, work and home pressures.
After all, it is hard for your brain to be scared if you are sitting in a puddle of mud laughing (flooding your brain with happy hormones.
- Play helps with connection – with our kids, with our family, with our friends. And if you don’t have any of these? Play is the best way to connect with others and build a “tribe”.
- Play brings us joy! It helps us “lighten up”, it helps us step away from day-to-day responsibilities, to help us smile, see the lighter side, and appreciate the good things.
- Play generates play… Show your kids, your family, your friends that play is okay – more than okay!
The list goes on…
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So what does play look like?
Well, that depends entirely on you!
Play for me is something enjoyable without a purpose other than “doing the thing”.
It can look like…
– Lego (sets for relaxing, free building for play)
– Board games
– Role play (playing Sylvanians with my daughter!)
– Dancing (at home and in a class)
– Having fun when walking (trying to jump over puddles!)
– Just being silly with my family (I live with natural comedians!)
– Muting TV adverts and providing a made up voice over (the kids love me doing this!)
For you it could be a hockey club, something arty, paddleboarding, junk modelling on the kitchen table, archery, building sand-castles… and if you want, sitting in muddle puddles.
But whatever it is, try and let it remain playful and not verge into “work”.
I reflected on my last year of dance, performing in a show was so much fun! But competing (even though technically “for fun”), ended up feeling pretty intense in the moment.
So I made the decision that even though I would continue to compete, I would change my attitude and bring the fun back (I did not enjoy feeling that nervous!!).
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Whilst play can involve a screen, I feel (for me at least!) that I spend enough time in front of one. So, play for me is “off-screen” (unless it is doing Just Dance!) – it often involves other people, but sometimes it doesn’t.
So, here is my challenge to you.
Do something fun today.
Something just for the joy of it.
Buy yourself an ice-cream with sprinkles on top, wear a funky shirt that makes you smile, play charades with your kids after tea, read a book (with funny voices added), bundle round a mates house and have your own version of “Bake Off” or “Strictly”, or go and jump in some puddles.
But be careful, it might just become a habit, and change your life for the better.
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Jenn Hodge
Rama Life
