Imagination

The Importance of Play: Pt. 1

Jeanna GLeave a comment

I wrote the following devotional for my church last October:

One of my greatest fears is growing up. Not growing old, but growing up. I don’t fear this for just myself, but for all humankind. I’ve worked with children of all ages and backgrounds for about 18 years. Too often I have met children with adult responsibilities and concerns. They do not have the freedom to play, which is counterproductive, in my humble opinion, because play is one of the best learning tools. Through play we socialize and work together, use our imaginations to dream up visions of our future, or practice solving problems, and we always learn better when we’re having fun. I’m afraid that children are experiencing a loss of innocence at younger and younger stages, thereby nipping in the bud any chance of a playful childhood, and therefore a more optimistic future.

The Bible tells us in Mark 9:36-37 that children are a gift from God and we should cherish and care for them as best we can. What also scares me is that the adults who are caring for these children have forgotten how to play. How can we teach what we no longer know?

I was gifted with what is referred to as a free-range childhood; my friends and I rode our bikes all over town (no helmets!), stomped our way down the brook, danced silly routines at the bus stop for the passing cars, built forts in the trees, and we’d play kickball in the back until the dinner bell rang. I know a lot of adults who say their childhood was similar, but ‘these days and these kids just aren’t the same.’ But can’t they be? Are our own perceived fears of technology, crime, or injury getting in the way of play? Teach the children how we used to play. If you’re reading this, you survived, so you can’t have done anything that bad. Have faith that they will survive, too.

God gifted me with a career path that leads me to children who are desperate for a lot of things, but among them are time and resources to play, and to be a kid with no responsibilities other than to have fun. I get to play every day, and what a blessing it is to see children behaving like children. All of you adults out there can receive my blessings, too. But first, you need to nurture your own imaginations and silliness. God tells us in Matthew 18:2-4 to think and act like children; be humble, happy, and full of love. Whether you have a child to play with, or not, it is okay to go out and play. The world sure can use the gifts of play, like laughter, friendship, cooperation, creativity, altruism, and appreciation for the here and now.

If you could teach and play with a child any game from your childhood, what would it be?

Reading Into Things

Jeanna GLeave a comment

Growing up, I was not much of a bookworm. I spent my time outside running wild. Books and reading were of little interest to me. I enjoyed school and I did what I needed to do to get good grades, but as soon as I was done, Poof! I was outta there.

Once I hit college I had to read endless amounts of textbooks for my degree. I was interested in what I was learning, but once I was done with my studies, the last thing I wanted to do was curl up with a good book.

It wasn’t until I was a new mom that I really got into reading for pleasure. One of my favorite, most recent memories is of the summer my daughter and I moved into our own place. She was a year and a half and still took naps. We’d start our day with a wagon ride to the pool. A few splashes there and then we’d wheel back home for lunch. A stroller ride to lull her to sleep, and then after artfully transitioning her to bed, I would make my way to the balcony where I would enjoy a cocktail while reading my summer novels for a couple of hours. I was still teaching, so I had summers off. This was our daily routine, and I loved it.

I would be transported to another time, another place, another life. It was so easy to get lost in those books. I enjoyed those days, but that was just the beginning of a very physically and emotionally exhausting period of my life: single-motherhood.

I remember when I was a child and I’d be running through the house until I saw my mom lying on the couch, with one arm resting across her forehead, and a romance novel in her other hand. I would quickly slow down to quietly pass her by, hopefully undisturbed. I had enough intuition to know that was her time, her escape, her need in that moment. I knew then, but now I get it. I often wonder if she was actually reading, or if the book was more of a warning sign for us to leave her alone.

This past weekend was the unofficial start to summer, and although I don’t have summers off anymore, I don’t want to stop diving into beach reads. I prefer to borrow books than buy them, but with the libraries being closed because of Covid-19, I caved and bought both a paperback and an online copy of new summer must-reads.

That first summer of reading and this one are very similar in that I needed an escape. I’m sure I’m not alone in feeling the need to be transported to another place and time, somewhere far removed from the current state of affairs. Finding the right book can be such a cure. To passersby, I’m just lazing in my hammock in my backyard, but I’m really in some imaginary beach house on Nantucket observing the heroine figure out her love life amidst all of her naive mistakes.

My daughter came to me yesterday to tell me her favorite things about living in our new home. One is our nighttime routine of cuddling while I read to her. Although we’ve done that everywhere we’ve lived, it is heartwarming to know she values those moments. I hope that I’ve instilled the desire to read, not just to develop the skill, but as a way of opening her mind to the possibilities that reading can provide. When we read we are not just peeking in on the lives of the characters, but we’re getting insight into the author’s experiences, opinions, thoughts, and ideas, which we can then draw upon to create our own real experiences. But I suppose I’m preaching to the choir with that gem!

I think our imaginations are naturally stronger as children. So if reading helps us to grow our imagination, it is also serves as a juvenescent elixir! How about that connection! Or am I just reading into things?

What books helped you to grow your imagination and feel youthful?