Child’s Play

When was the last time you did unstructured, non-productive, just-for-fun activities? Even adults need time to play! Engaging our senses of creativity, humor, and fun is essential in a life well-lived. Dare to be lighthearted and silly with us this month! This challenge offers a chance to build emotional resilience and spoil your inner child.

Habit:

Spend time playing

To Do:

Sensory play (examples: playing with sand, water, clay, cornstarch slime, dry beans, soft fabrics, blowing bubbles, kaleidoscope)

Cooperative play (examples: card games, board games, classics like tag, hide-and-seek, charades, or Simon Says)

Expressive play (singing, dancing, painting, collage, sidewalk chalk, puppet show)

Pretend play (dress-up, be an animal or a character, put on a skit, LARPing or other role-playing games)

Reflection:

This challenge was tough for some of my guildmembers, and the fact that I had included examples helping them remember how to play in various ways was well appreciated. Most people work so hard as teenagers to seem more adult and put aside our childish ways, and many don’t rediscover the necessary fun of play outside of creative hobbies unless they have young children around to play with (their own or others’). I was lucky in my circle of college friends–we rediscovered the magic amongst ourselves, balancing the strict hard work of our intellectual pursuits with plenty of silliness! And I’ve held on to just a bit of that spirit ever since.