At Chicago Children’s Museum, we know the power of play, especially during difficult times.
To highlight our commitment to our mission, to your children and families, and to play, we’re featuring Natalie Bortoli, Chicago Children’s Museum’s Vice President of Educational Programming and Experience Development. In this five-part Parenting Playbook series, we’ll hear Natalie’s expert thoughts on why we need play now—maybe more than ever.
This is the final installment of the series. Read Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, and Part 4.
By Natalie Bortoli
Adults Need Play Too
Adults, don’t forget yourselves in all of this. Play is necessary for you too, and helps to improve health and wellness, relieve stress, build new knowledge, maintain focus, and strengthen relationships.
Many of the ways of playing mentioned earlier are ways that adults can also engage in play. Think about what you like to do. Maybe this is a good time to spend an hour each day sketching or painting alongside your children or on your own during nap time. Start a collection of objects found on a nature walk. Have a brief daily dance party in your living room, or a sing along to favorite tunes. Take up drumming with chopsticks on the kitchen counter. Dig in the dirt, plant some seeds, and watch them sprout.
Many things are out of our control right now, and the future is unpredictable. We do not know how long we will be living with restrictions, and what the long-term impacts of the pandemic will be on our way of life. However play, with all of its benefits, perhaps most significantly allows us to live in the present and take control of the “right now.” Play can re-awaken joy, rejuvenate, and connect us. And that’s something we all, children AND adults, need now more than ever.
Please continue to join us on Chicago Children’s Museum’s social media channels, e-mails, and website for ongoing ideas on how you can keep playing through these challenging times.