Snow Day—Play Day! - gretchen huesmann

Disclaimer:

After writing this post, I hesitated to publish it due to the enormous amount of suffering around our nation and the world. I questioned the wisdom of focusing on play when folks struggle to find food or shelter, when illness abounds, and for some, instead of playsets, war is in their backyards. Yet, our bodies and minds crave a break from sorrow. Like a salve on a wound, even a small interruption of a smile or laughter soothes the soul and brings strength to the suffering. If your pain is too great to read it, try this blog instead.

If you read on, I hope this post stirs up some happy memories and inspires you to make new ones.

This morning I woke up to a feed filled with winter wonderland photos, school closings, and weather advisories across the country. Since moving to Florida, we are often asked if we miss the snow.

“Uh, not really,” is my typical reply.

Yet the glittering pictures from the current blizzards—combined with a recent home project of organizing photos—have stirred a bit of nostalgia in me. Memories abound of building snowmen, tracks, and powdery angels. I miss the rosy-red cheeks of my children in snow-soaked suits dragging the slush over the threshold, followed by steaming hot cocoa and board games on those beloved snow days.

As I perused the pictures and recalled happy wintery memories, I wondered, Am I missing the snow? Or my snow playmates?

If I am honest, the answer is neither. Of course, I miss my grown children—every day. And, even as I write, my feet are clad in tennis shoes, not snow boots, for my daily walk. My pictures showed equally fond memories of backyard badminton, summer camping with mountain hikes, and road trips.

I think what I miss today is play.

Yes, Play!

Think about it. The moments we captured, first on film and now on our phones, almost always involved recreation and fun when we set aside work and allowed relationships, experiences, and exploring to take priority.

Isn’t that the best part of a true snow day—the freedom to forgo responsibilities, guilt-free—and spend extra time resting, snuggling, baking, or other activities we enjoy?

Play for All Ages

If you’re an early educator, you know play is important for brain function and development. Children learn about the world around them and how to interact through their play. “Play is their work,” we tell their parents.

So, what about adults? The National Institute for Play reminds us that play is productive for any age. Play keeps us flexible, positive, and improves relationships. Play wards off depression by producing those necessary endorphins. The key is to discover, or rediscover, what activities we consider enjoyable and then make room in our calendar for them.

So, let’s get intentional about play.

Plan Play

Have you done that? Have you planned downtime for 2024? Though unexpected snow days provide unscheduled play, they are few and far between for most of us—okay, for some of us.