Play Like a Child

Wendy and I decided that the Christmas holiday would be a good time to move into our new house. This included the joys of moving all our furniture, unpacking boxes, doing renovation work and simply settling in. This was all on top of the Christmas gatherings surrounding church and family life. I look back and ask myself, “When did I actually take a break?” As we get back into the swing of school/work life, perhaps some of us are feeling more drained than ever.

On New Year’s Day, I sat down with a book written by Pastor Ken Shigematsu called God in My Everything: How an Ancient Rhythm Helps Busy People Enjoy God. Resolute on starting the year on the right foot, I was searching for guidance and inspiration. One chapter that stood out for me was “Play Like a Child.” This statement goes against much of what I’ve been told about what it means to be an adult. In our journey towards adulthood, we succumb to the mantra of “more work, less play.” Sadly, this can often lead to no play at all. I have to admit that I have a hard time giving myself fully over to play. A persistent voice inside my head tells me that I should be doing something more productive. I love my mother, but this voice sounds an awfully like hers.

Perhaps this is one reason there is so much joy in fatherhood. There are moments throughout the day where I can dance and sing silly songs without inhibition with Rhys. We immerse ourselves into the world of Selachimorpha (sharks) through books, toys, videos and costumes simply because of his borderline obsession for these cuddly creatures. Shigematsu describes these very moments as play, where we are “doing something for its own sake.”

In education, I think about how play-based learning is encouraged in the early developmental years. Children in Finland do not start any formal schooling until the age of seven, yet they have one of the highest achieving school systems in the world. We see that scientific research and ancient wisdom point to the benefits of play. Through play, neural networks are developed and creativity is fostered. We are renewed and reconnected with God, and play brings us together to strengthen bonds.

As I look at my Google calendar today, I see department meeting, an assignment due and phone calls to make. With a little less guilt and a lot more peace, my goal this year is to see a few more events throughout the week that are simply devoted to play.