Summary of This Summer, Design a Daily Recess:
The content suggests that incorporating a daily recess into our summer routine can make the season more special and memorable. Research shows that both children and adults benefit from unstructured, creative playtime, which can boost vitality, energy, and creativity. To design a summer recess, it is important to understand one’s personal play preferences. The content outlines different play personalities, such as those who enjoy creating, moving, imagining, going outside, returning to childhood activities, goofing off, or tapping into their senses. It encourages readers to reflect on their preferred style of play and create a plan for incorporating it into their daily routine. By doing so, they can make the most of the summer months and add more fun and fulfillment to their lives.
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Summary:
1. The Importance of Taking Breaks: Research shows that both children and adults benefit from regular breaks to recharge and engage in unstructured play.
2. Different Play Personalities: Dr. Stuart Brown has identified eight play personalities that illustrate the importance of finding what activities are fun and engaging for each individual.
3. Designing Your Summer Recess: Reflect on the different styles of play and choose activities that align with your interests and bring you joy.
4. Prompts for Summer Recess Activities: Use your hands, explore movement, fire up your imagination, go outside, return to a childhood activity, or simply goof off.
5. Creating a Plan: Decide when and how your daily recess will take place, and consider any tools or accountability measures you may need.
The Unique and Fascinating Aspects of Designing a Daily Recess this Summer
Do you ever find yourself reaching the end of summer and feeling a sense of regret that you didn’t make the most of those precious months? We all want each season to feel special and memorable, and one way to achieve this is by incorporating a daily recess into our lives. Just like children benefit from exercise, sunlight, freedom, and fun during recess, adults also thrive when they allow themselves unstructured, exploratory, creative, adventurous, and playful breaks.
The concept of a summer recess allows us to recharge, boost our vitality, energy, and creativity, and make the most of the summer season. However, designing a recess that truly aligns with our interests and brings us joy can be challenging. That’s where understanding our play personality comes into play.
Dr. Stuart Brown, the founder of the National Institute for Play, has identified eight play personalities that shed light on what activities are fun and engaging for each individual. These categories remind us that what brings joy to one person may not resonate with another. For some, movement is the key to enjoyment, while others find pleasure in making others laugh or planning and executing experiences. There are those who find delight in imagining worlds, and for some, simple activities like shopping or solving crossword puzzles can bring immense fun.
Before we can design a summer recess that is personalized and brings us true happiness, we need to identify what kind of play appeals to us the most. Reflecting on the recess prompts can help us uncover our preferences and interests.
Using our hands during recess can be incredibly fulfilling. Whether it’s cooking a meal, fixing a broken object, decorating our living space, or playing around with paints or clay, engaging our hands in a creative and purposeful manner can bring a sense of accomplishment and joy.
Movement is vital for many individuals’ enjoyment, so using recess to explore forms of movement that excite us is a great option. This could involve swimming in a community pool, playing pickleball with a friend, stretching to soothing music, or even kicking a soccer ball around with our kids in the front yard or at a local park.
For those who have a vivid imagination, recess can be an opportunity to fire it up further. Writing a story, poem, or note to a friend allows us to tap into our creative side and immerse ourselves in a different world. Alternatively, watching a TV show or indulging in a novel can transport us to exciting and fantastical realms.
With summer’s beautiful weather, going outside during recess is an excellent choice. Whether it’s watering our plants, taking a short walk, or enjoying a meal outdoors, connecting with nature can be refreshing and rejuvenating.
Sometimes the best way to enjoy recess is by revisiting our childhood. Think back to when you were ten years old and consider what activities brought you joy. Perhaps it was walking in the woods, playing with your dog, collecting shells, taking pictures, or shooting hoops. Reconnecting with these childhood activities can introduce a sense of nostalgia and reignite a spark of happiness.
In our fast-paced and busy lives, taking time to be completely unscheduled during recess can be a true luxury. Sitting in the sun, staring into space, or even taking a nap allows us to recharge and appreciate the simple pleasures of the present moment.
Once we have reflected on what truly brings us joy and energizes us, it’s time to create a plan for our daily recess. Decide on the timing, duration, and any specific tools or accountability measures that may be necessary. You might find it helpful to set an alarm or place a sticky note on your bathroom mirror as a reminder to make time for play.
So, which style of play appeals to you the most? Are you ready to schedule a daily recess for yourself this summer? Remember, taking breaks and incorporating fun and unstructured play into our lives is essential for our well-being and overall satisfaction. Embrace the opportunity to design your own summer recess and make this season truly remarkable.
