“It is a happy talent to know how to play.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Seeing the world through a child’s eyes is wondrous. Children are naturally creative, joyous, curious, and simply just fun to be around. Their enthusiasm is infectious. You can’t help but find your way back to your own inner child when you spend time with children. Playing as an adult can shift your mindset and offer a bit of calm and a little break from the seriousness and grind of adulting. Sometimes, we adults forget that play is not just for children. Now and then, for our own health and sanity, we need to return to our younger selves, where silliness, wonder, and laughter are in ample supply.

When I retired after many years in education, I felt the loss of being around children every day almost immediately. Luckily, I have two young grandsons who remind me constantly of the importance of play. I love being their Mimi. From jumping on the trampoline to cooking together to reading books to playing with Matchbox cars, and even doing chores, they make it all fun, joyful, and creative. Playing with them is also a way to share family stories of when their father, my first child, was young. They love hearing stories of when “Daddy was a little boy”. Reading aloud and talking about the pictures in the books offers a platform for imaginations to have unlimited freedom to wonder and create; for little brains (and big brains) to think and ask questions. After spending time with them, even on FaceTime, I feel calmer, less controlled by the “to-do lists” of adult life. My energy feels lighter, and the world seems brighter. 

Recently, I started volunteering once a week in a friend’s first-grade classroom. She mentioned she was short on parent volunteers this year, so I asked if I could help. She said yes, and now I get to do reading stations with six- and seven-year-olds. It is wonderful to be back in a classroom with children again. These beautiful children are smart and funny. They love to ask questions, and they want answers. When we play reading games and read books, they always find clever ways to weave in new layers of learning. They are also thoughtful, kind, and caring. Being with them offers me space to laugh and relax, and also gives me hope for a better world. And besides, they are just plain fun to be around.

So, how do you, as an adult, find ways to play in your life, especially if you don’t have small children who can lead the way for you? If you have children in your life, spend time playing with them, on their terms. Let them show you the way back to play. If you don’t have children in your life, you can still find ways to play. Trying a new sport or activity in a group setting can offer plenty of opportunities to play if you give yourself the space and grace to laugh and goof things up. Organizing regular game nights with friends can also be a way to find your inner child again, especially if you play some of the games you loved as a child. Dancing with abandon to a good song is another way to be silly and laugh. Try to let go of adult-sized expectations and just have fun. Pickleball is an example from my own life. I started playing a few years ago, and I love the game. But I am terrible at it. I don’t care that I’m awful at it. I play with friends who are very patient with me. I focus on having fun and laughing, not on being good at it. There is such freedom in letting go and just playing for the sake of playing! 

To be clear, I am not endorsing that we quit all our adult responsibilities. That idea, though tempting, would not be practical or even truly possible. I am suggesting instead that perhaps “acting like a child” now and then, finding the wonder, joy, and silliness within yourself, and letting it out, could make you happier and healthier. Making room for regular play in your life can build stronger relationships, lift your mood, help you connect with your inner creativity, and lower your stress. So the next time you hear a phrase like “That’s childish”, maybe try flipping the script and allow yourself permission to act like a child, at least for a little while.