Discovering Your Inner Voice Of Play

This #SpringtimePlay post is sponsored by the #VoiceofPlay. As always my special springtime joy and outdoor playground happiness are my own.

When you become a first-time parent there are a lot of voices to ring in your ears. And it can be a confusing time. I remember being so thankful when I finally returned home and welcomed that new normal. Looking at my bundle of joy, I wondered what my own voice of reason would sound like one day. And for me, that became the voice of play. 

Initially I didn’t know I was going to be a stay-at-home Mom. I relished the next 90 days for every coo, gurgle, gaze, and outfit change. And then reason set in, and I was determined to earn or save what little I’d actually bring home after childcare costs. While that eventually lead to my blogging, it also led to a reasoning of so much more.

That I would find a new career staying home. And if my child was to be conditioned for society…let it be one built on FUN. Of hands-on learning. Let it be of her laughing and running. I wanted her to seek adventure in more ways than just a classroom. I didn’t want her to be afraid to see where the bends in a curly slide took her. Or what was on the other side of a roped drawbridge.

And so we played. All while I strollered her past the playgrounds that she would wobble to happily a year later. The steps were short, the slides were colorful. And life was good as the toddler swings cradled her safely, rocking back and forth.

And then, there was another. A boy that was a boundless bundle of energy to balance her calm. Massive amounts of coffee ensued for Mom. And that voice of reasoning, of play, called for long walks to mailboxes and pit stops at playgrounds. Things got crazy, but the slides and swings became our solace.

These days my Littles are 4 and 7. And time has made me a single work-at-home Mom now. One that has preschool graduation next month and 3rd grade enrollment paperwork. Who is still trying to earn or save the difference beyond convention and conformity. Who realizes she has one last summer where my boy is still too young for day camp.

And it’s right now, when the spring is thawing the ground and the worms are wiggling in the dirt. When the trails beckon, and the flowers are peeking out of a damp ground. Where a familiar voice is urging me to take every spare moment…and go play.

So I will remind myself the importance of budgeting needs and wants a little longer. Of fresh air, picnic tables, and afternoon sunshine. To hold fast to these last few years she likes holding my hand. And to chase down every time I can race him down the double slide.

Because all too fast, they have grown into each hurdle the year before had left them. So to each of you, remember to take your kids to the places where they are allowed to be loud. Where fun is still free. And where they will find their voice of play. Your grandchildren will thank you for it.

Enjoyed this post? Then make sure to also visit the Voice of Play website for more information on the benefits and science of play. And make sure to take a moment to tell me your favorite activity for getting back to the playground this Spring!

About Voice of Play:  “Founded in 2006, IPEMA’s {International Play Equipment Manufacturers Association} Voice of Play initiative promotes growth in the quality and quantity of children’s free play and use of playgrounds. By providing information and resources … IPEMA wants to preserve play and playgrounds for our own children and those in the future.”