The Value of Play

I read an article last week about a study out of Penn State that says that playful people are more attractive. That "signaling one's virtues as a potential long-term mate through playfulness is not far-fetched. Our results suggest that adult playfulness may result from sexual selection and signal positive qualities to potential long-term mates." My response?

Well, duh. (To be fair, this was also the response the Jezebel writer came up with. Still.)

I'm incredibly lucky in that I get to play a lot, almost every day. Sure, I do a huge amount of admin at work, but it's punctuated with playful collaborations with both children and adults. How lucky am I that I get to go to work and do yoga stretches? Or imagine that I'm ice skating in the middle of a classroom? Or tell stories in fun and interesting ways? I get to teach poetry using movement and science using song; I get to help playwrights make their scripts awesome by reading, questioning, and--yes--playing.

One of the questions I've been asking people in my Theatre-Parent Interviews has been "how has your work as an artist influenced your parenting?" I think the fact that I get to play throughout my day makes me so open and willing to play along with The Kid. It's not a chore to get down on the floor with him; I get down and get up several times a week. I learn new songs from my colleagues all the time, that I bring home to sing with him. And I kick ass at reading stories.

There's been recent discussion about whether playing with offspring makes it more difficult to discipline them. I don't think so. Being playful with one's child doesn't make one any less of an authority figure; if anything, it lends an air of mutual respect to the relationship. I'd rather be The Kid's parent than his friend (which is where I think a lot of this argument comes from), but I certainly don't think playing with him will make him any less willing to listen to me--and I'm definitely not afraid of telling him "no."

The willingness to be silly has always been a backbone of my relationship with Jake, too; it's nice to let go and joke around.  His ability to make me laugh uncontrollably is one of my favorite things, and I love that he gives that to The Kid, too.

Being able to find the fun and opportunity to play is so important--certainly in my life, and I think, too, in the world at large. Play is a huge part of my day, both at work and at home, and one certainly feeds the other. It's wonderful to be able to find the joy.