Can you recall the activities that brought you the most joy and playfulness as a child? And whatever happened to recess? That 15-minute chunk of time to do nothing but play outside? Remember the freedom you felt and the fun that was had?

As children, we are naturally playful. Play is how we learn about the world, ourselves, and one another. Our natural curiosity, imagination, and creativity drive our interactions and experiences. When we are young, we live in the present and enjoy each moment for what it is. Yet, somewhere between childhood and adulthood, many of us lose connection with the playful parts of ourselves. At some critical point in our lives, adult systems take over and consume us, leaving little room for the curiosity, wonder, and magic that is childhood.

As adults, with the competing demands of personal and professional commitments and responsibilities, time for play rarely makes it onto our to-do lists. We become so overwhelmed with the need to always be productive, accountable, and efficient that any leisure time we do have is usually spent "doing." We get caught up in the busyness and simply feel as though we do not have time for play and childhood freedoms, even if we long for them. We understand and, perhaps reluctantly, accept this as a rite of passage into adulthood—the cost of being a grown-up.

This doesn’t have to be the way.........

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