Believe it or not, I have not once broken a bone or have even gotten a gash that required stitches. Never have I been rushed to the emergency room while profusely crying in my mother’s arms begging to for her to take the pain away. Not once.
As a child I was never let outside of the house to just play with others, I was cooped up inside the house to play with dolls and coloring books and to be left to my own devices instead of being outside in the dirty concrete with bikes, balls, and other children my age. I was never exposed to rough and dirty things because I was the “miracle only child” of my family, and especially because I was a girl.
I never thought much of it as I grew older, I just knew that because of the way I grew up had shaped me into the person I am today. Like how since I was never exposed to action or have been traumatised by an older sibling with horror/thriller films, I have a hard time keeping my eyes and ears open throughout one of these movies.
I had lost all touch of “play” besides from the occasional group hangout and card games but aside from that, I remained the same as I was as a child, cooped up inside the house left to my own devices. But recently, my English class got to participate in Global Play Day that took place worldwide. Instead of sitting in a classroom we went outside with bags of toys to roam and play freely with our friends.
Play in school? Never heard of her.
The thing though, was that I just felt so… free
I realised how important play is to us as developing humans. It allows us to build up social skills, teamwork, learn, and happiness (it’s scientifically proven!) What I felt was missing from school was play! Ever since middle school began to focus on high school and high school’s focus on college, I forgot what play was. It was a refreshing break to go back and just blow bubbles and laugh about losing Uno instead of losing hairs over exams and assignments day after day. C’mon teachers, get in on this!
“My teenage years are marked with school and homework. Done are the days outside; most of mine are spent indoors in front of a computer screen, trying to finish an assignment due in half an hour. I care more about which brand of instant ramen takes the fastest to cook, rather than what my mom has on the stove. Time spent chasing butterflies as children is replaced with time spent chasing that Ivy League college acceptance letter.”
If there is anything that a parent could take away from my story as a now teenager, please let your children out to play freely. Do not hold their hand and carefully hold them as they try to jump or run fast nor should you try to tell them what to play or imagine, it will hinder the short period of time they have with their exciting imagination. Let your kids outside to play, explore, imagine, and break their bones.
