“Well played, my friend.”

How many times have you heard that phrase in your life? It’s an interesting saying if you think about it. Usually, you hear it after someone outsmarts you or excels in performance. We hear it or say it and then go about the rest of our day. However, what if we sought after that phrase, made it our aim to hear it said?

In London, there is an exhibit in the Wellcome Collection called “Play Well”. Showcasing the significance of play in our lives, the exhibit takes a unique spin on adventure and fun.

What is play? I think, here, it’s simply amusement, entertainment, recreation. The point is that play is powerful. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, it has the potential to shape our personalities, who we become, and who we are. It can give us necessary skills for social interaction and problem solving (The Power of Play).

The gravitation towards fun is one of human nature. We are inclined to be amused. However, as society becomes more technologically driven, the time we devote to play decreases. As work becomes consumed with financial gain, amusement becomes less important. As the world becomes more success-obsessed, adventure diminishes from our minds.

In the exhibit, there was a poem written by Loris Malaguzzi posted on the wall that represented how play has been separated from learning, from cultural custom. My eyes were opened as the words revealed the “conflict” created between the fun of life and the practicality of it.

 

If we started to recognize the power of play more, we could change the world. Adventure unites humanity with a common curiosity for discovery. The growth we could experience as individuals if play was a priority in our lives would be immense. If we strived to hear the words, “Well played”, and relished in the results, I bet we would be surprised.

Make funny faces, dance in the streets, laugh at silly things, see life from a new perspective (upside down maybe?), seek out play.

               

*all photos taken by me*

**poem by Loris Malaguzzi, The Hundred Languages (n.d.)**

“The Power of Play- How Fun and Games Help Children Thrive.” HealthyChildren.org, American Academy of Pediatrics, 25 Nov. 2019, https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/toddler/fitness/Pages/Caution-Children-at-Play.aspx.