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Why don’t grown ups play like us children do? Annie, aged 7, Canberra
Hi Annie, that is such a intelligent query.
What led you to ask this? Did you discover this at a playground, the place children appear to do all of the taking part in – the climbing, swinging and sliding, whereas grown-ups simply grasp round, pushing swings or texting on their telephones?
In truth most grown-ups don’t play in playgrounds, which is bizarre as a result of playgrounds are a lot enjoyable.
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Play is so vital, however why?
Most children are consultants at play. This is as a result of play is likely one of the finest methods to study your self and the world round you.
Play helps you progress higher, assume higher, think about, resolve issues and play with others.
This leads again to your nice query. If play is so good for us and so enjoyable, why don’t grown-ups play like children?
There are a number of solutions, however I’ll share two of the massive ones.
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Grown-ups have so much to handle
First, grown-ups should pay for many issues, like meals, transport and someplace to dwell. This means they should go to work to earn cash. And if they’ve children, they should take care of them.
So grown-up life will be hectic and busy. And one factor about play is that they should really feel like taking part in to have enjoyable. If grown-ups are drained or have an excessive amount of critical stuff on their minds, it makes it onerous to really feel like taking part in.
Yet, grown-ups have to play too, and for lots of the similar causes as children. But grown-ups additionally have to play to let go of stress and fear.
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Grown-ups play too
So – and that is the second reply to your superior query – adults have discovered grown-up methods to play. This will get them shifting, pondering and drawback fixing, whereas additionally hanging out with others.
Once they’ll not squeeze onto the slide or swing on the park, grown-ups might take up a interest like stitching or skydiving. They may additionally like taking part in video games with buddies, like sport or board video games. They may even play with their buddies on-line with a pc or telephone.
Adults discover methods to play too.
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In truth, grown-ups like taking part in a lot they’ve video games and events the place they gown up and play with a number of different grown-ups. Older grown-ups even have their very own playgrounds.
So the reply to your query is adults don’t all the time play like children do as a result of they are often busy and have a number of different issues to do. But they do truly play, even when that’s generally differently.
Keep taking part in and being curious Annie.
Hello, curious children! Do you’ve gotten a query you’d like an skilled to reply? Ask an grownup to ship your query to curiouskids@theconversation.edu.au
Cathy Hope has acquired analysis funding from authorities and trade to establish group aspirations for play and playful areas, and to design and ship playful activations in public areas.
