Playtime

In his book, "Play: How it Shapes the Brain, Opens the Imagination, and Invigorates the Soul," Dr. Stuart Brown explains the meaning of play and what we tend to miss as adults. In Chapter One, he writes:

"Nearly every one of us starts out playing quite naturally. As children, we don't need instruction in how to play. We just find what we enjoy and do it. Whatever "rules" there are to play, we learn from our playmates. And from our play we learn how the world works, and how friends interact. By playing, we learn about the mystery and excitement that the world can hold in a tree house, an old tire swing, or a box of crayons. At some point as we get older, however, we are made to feel guilty for playing. We are told that it is unproductive, a waste of time, even sinful. The play that remains is, like league sports, mostly very organized, rigid, and competitive. We strive to always be productive, and if an activity doesn't teach us a skill, make us money, or get on the boss's good side, then we feel we should not be doing it. Sometimes the sheer demands of daily living seem to rob us of the ability to play" (Brown, 2009, p. 3).
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As an AB/DL, I contemplate the meaning of "play" quite often. In some ways, we AB/DLs understand the benefit of play, and in other ways, we can truly grasp what is missing in the adult world. Consider the birth of creativity through play. Consider supporting imagination through play. It's all there, we just need to reach out and grab it.

My "little" age is 6-12 months...play for me looks like: peekaboo, stacking blocks or cups, knob puzzles, looking at pictures in children's books, clapping games, shakers and rattles, dancing, kicking, grabbing fun toys, and listening to music. When I engage the little boy inside of me, I find new levels of creativity in my adult life. I find a healthy balance between creativity and productivity. Ideas flow. Problems solve. I'm closer to others. 

Play is an essential component to the AB/DL identity, what does it mean to you? How do you like to play?