“I’m trying to save play,” says Pat Rumbaugh.
Rumbaugh is also concerned that adults and especially older adults often stop playing games and having fun altogether.
In 2009, Rumbaugh gathered half a dozen people to discuss promoting play.
Because of Rumbaugh her hometown has been named aPlayful City USAeight times by the national play-focused nonprofitKaBoom!
Play can be as nonactive and solitary as reading a book that you enjoy.
It can be social, like playing bridge orRummikubor doing a puzzle with friends.
It can be physical say, a pickup basketball game or kicking a ball around.
It can be competitive play or totally friendly.
It could be imaginative play, one of my favorite things.
Even the women’sRed Hat Society, to find an interesting or flamboyant red hat, is play.
Play is really what you make it.
Young children see the boxes and want to go for it.
Next thing you know, the grandparents get right in and play with them.
Sometimes we’ll have markers, tennis balls, ropes, sheets, and other things nearby.
I saw a 95-year-old woman playing board games with a four-year-old, and they were having this wonderful conversation.
People of all ages realize they don’t need to have their whole day scheduled 24/7.
It makes you feel good intrinsically to play and to be with others, and you help each other.
People also wanted some adult things, particularly beverages.
We bring a lot of what we already have such ascornhole, Twister, hula hoops.
We attempt to have a band, too.
The first year the lead singer dressed up as Elvis.
Even though the name is Adult Play Day, we don’t insist it’sonlyfor people 21 and older.
We hold the event at a VFW hall.
‘Super seniors’ come from apartment buildings where seniors live.
Last spring, I got to go to theAspen Institute Project Play Summit.
I found out that 70 percent of 13-year-olds stop playing on a team.
That’s a horrible statistic.
That’s competitive play.
Then in college, you start to see more of a drop-off.
And then a mixture of things happen.
I should set it aside."
On the other hand, some people pick up things.
They realize, you know, it shouldn’t be all about work and no play.
I tell them the board-game room might not be too loud, and tai chi is probably mainly adults.
My six-year-old daughter can do it."
Older people need play just as much as anyone.
Seniors deserve to feel good, just like any other age group.
Seniors who don’t play are missing out on being carefree, playing games either alone or with others.
Whether people play a board game or do something physical, both bring joy.
Playing takes you away from your troubles.
You let everything go for a while and enjoy the moment.
It would be great if we all gave ourselves time to play every day.
I know how much better it makes me feel, how much better I am to be around.
If you’ve been around someone who’s stressed all they’ve done is work, work, work.
First, gather people who really care about play, who want to form a play committee.
It can be as small as two or three people, or it can be 20.
For example, we have an indoor pool in my community.
It’s a public facility, but people still have to pay to use it.
So we’ve gotten small grants for two Splash-and-Play pool parties.
That would be ideal.
How about the middle school next year?
Don’t worry, I’m going to put it in the budget."
I think it might be $1,000 to rent for a couple of hours and pay a custodian.
In some cities and communities, that won’t be a problem.
For others, it might be a financial burden, and they might have to raise money.
To get older adults involved, ask yourself, “Where are these seniors?”
For example, I start right where I live when I’m out walking.
I’ve knocked on seniors' doors, people I know, to be sure I invite them.
Go to churches and places of worship.
We have a flier made for every Play Day.
We put as many as four languages on it.
If you have a recreation department, that makes a lot of sense.
But I wouldn’t put it all on them.
I would give a shot to bring in some of your city government.
I would reach out to volunteers immediately.
You need people to take notes and write up the minutes.
You need someone who doesn’t mind doing some advertising, reaching out to people.
And you need people who have an interest in forming a play club or play committee.
Everybody brings something to the table.
Probably the biggest one that stands out is a couple who agreed to offer laughing yoga.
In 2009, our state senator offered to lead a game of “Simon Says.”
We thought that would be a great way to end the day.
The woman running for mayor in 2015 offered to run “Red Light, Green Light.”
She’s our mayor now.
Over the years I’ve gone to the city council to ask for more funding.
I’ve also personally invited the council people to Play Days.
I invite them to participate, which a lot do.
If you strive to reach out to everybody, you’re going to make it inclusive.
Ellen Ryan is a Maryland-based freelance writer and editor.
Published May 2016
See Pat Rumbaugh’sTEDxtalks about play:
Listen to theTED Radio Hourpodcast from NPR:
