Observing play as a form of meditation

 Sometimes watching children play is pure joy.  Seeing them make their own discoveries, noticing an a-ha moment, those times when they surprise you with their innovative ideas are some of the main reasons I feel so passionately about protecting the rights of children to experience True Play.

Other times though.... it can be a real challenge.  It can get messy, both physically and emotionally. It can be excruciating to sit back and let your child be frustrated with something even if you know they'll eventually figure it out. Sometimes their play vaults us right back to our own childhood experiences and our memories can make mountains out of molehills. Or... maybe you just don't want to have to deal with a paint-covered toddler mess.

Or perhaps you hear a voice of obligation telling you that you should be interacting with your child more? Asking them what they're doing or telling them how to do that thing the right way?

I have a challenge for you, dear reader. The next time that you're watching children play and you start to feel anxious or annoyed, pause to ask yourself these questions:

1. Is my child truly in danger?  (if yes, PLEASE STEP IN and make sure they're safe!)

2. If my child is not actually in any danger, what emotions am I feeling?  

3. If I'm worried, what am I worried will happen?  If I'm annoyed, why is their behavior annoying to me? What is at the root of my emotional response to their play?

I also challenge you to think of watching play as a meditation. Focus on it so deeply that you're no longer running through your mental checklist of to-do's for the day. Lose yourself in curiosity about what your child will do next. Blend into the background and simply observe. 

I personally find that taking pictures and videos of the play while it's happening (with as little interruption of the play as possible) is a great way to keep me present in the moment.  If I'm tangled up in my own emotions, I know I can go back and watch the video later so that I can enjoy the play after I've worked through my own feelings about it.

True Play gives us all new eyes

 

In 2022, I started a new program at my library that I called the Tiny True Play Studio.  All of my play programs in the past have focused mainly on the physical, whole-body types of play and this one I wanted to focus more on the sort of play that happens in "art spaces." Each week, I'd bring out paper, markers, stickers, fancy scissors and hole punches, paint and retired COVID sneeze guards (which make excellent easels and painting surfaces, btw) and then step back to see what the kids would do with those materials.

Most adults, when they walked up and saw the program, or when I tried to describe it to them would say to their child, "Oh! An art program! Do you want to draw something, honey?" but I quickly discovered that this program was so much more than a kids' art program.  Although some adults had difficulty resisting the fully understandable urge to instruct their kid to paint or to draw or to make SOMETHING with these art supplies, those who were able to step back were rewarded with some of the most interesting and innovative play I've seen.

 

I observed invented games with acorns, hole punches and paper

 

 the wind became an entertaining play material

 

 

 

 

Scissors became tools to pick up leaves to create a pile to jump in with friends.

 

Markers and caps themselves became objects with which to create a collage/sculpture....

 

And more!

The wonderful thing about this realization is that (1) you likely already have these materials or similar materials on hand.  Play doesn't have to be about purchasing particular materials. (2) You might even already be doing programs that use "art materials" and all it takes is for you to step back and give the caregivers in the program encouragement to allow their kids to explore the materials however they want.  Even if (maybe especially if) it means that you don't have yet another "thing" to take home at the end of the program to stick on your refrigerator. You're welcome.