The lost art of playing

Over the past few years, the art (and I do mean art) of playing has altered into indoor activities centered around a screen. Sure, there is nothing wrong with playing games, watching movies, and having endless entertainment options at your fingertips.

There is also nothing wrong with spending hours outside talking with your friends and finding random ways to entertain yourself. Sadly, the days of playing outside until dark have almost vanished. As an adult I often wonder if those many hours outside where used to keep us out of our parent's hair. In the end, it does not matter because my memories of that time are always cherished.

Neighborhood antics. Silly games. Creative ideas. Healthy trouble (mostly). That time to be "free" and "wild" in the safety of my street only enabled my sense of wonder and innovation. While times have changed, there is always a place to find the art of playing.

Family Vacation Freeze Tag

Freeze tag is only one option from a number of "classic games". And am I really old enough to have the games I played in my youth referred to as "classic games"? I guess it is better than "old-fashioned games"... but only by a little.

The games are limitless, as an older games can be altered to appease the audience. Our game of Red Light. Green Light. ended up being a game of many colors:

• Red - Stop
• Green - Go
• Yellow - Very, very slow
• Purple - Walk Silly
• Orange - Skip
• Black - Backwards
• Light Blue - Tippy Toes

So, remember these ideas when you hear "I am bored" or too much time is spent glued to a screen. Because any day can be made into a good day. All it takes is a little imagination and the desire to make it good.

"I climbed the tree to see the world."