This week, I looked at the article “What the Nordics can teach us about having fun,” which looked at developments in architectural designs of playgrounds around Scandinavia. The emphasis of these playgrounds is about equal access to play, seeing play in ordinary things, and the function of play. Many of the playgrounds discussed were built into urban environments, which meant the equipment didn’t always look like what we’d imagine. The importance of rethinking playground environments was to build an experience that was both challenging and fun. These places became not just for children, but for all people since it brought folks from all different social strata together.
I was reminded of a couple years ago when I used to attend an all-ages Dungeons & Dragons group at a gaming store. Even though I knew it was all-ages, I still found myself surprised to be an an adventuring group that varied from 10 years old to mid-40s! At first, I was a little unsure how it would work or if it’d even be fun for any of us. But it was actually a really cool experience! We came from all different backgrounds and ages but had all come together to play. Seeing how my other party members approached problem solving, navigated their characters, and working as a team was rewarding. The youngest kid even drew pictures of our characters as we described them. I think about that experience all the time.
Incorporating opportunities for play is so important for all age groups. I think as adults it’s easy to forget how to play. It’s a good tool for learning about our environment, about others, and about ourselves. Dowdy quotes Guy Hollaway in saying, “Play doesn’t just stop when you get older. If anything, you should make sure you can incorporate play even more.” I’d love to see play like this encouraged more here in America in public spaces.
Dowdy, C. (Feb 7 2022). What the Nordics can teach us about having fun. BBC.
Hi @diamondpatrick,
I love how you tied the article about Nordic playgrounds to your D&D experience. What an awesome example of how play can bring people of all ages and backgrounds together.
I completely agree that incorporating play into public spaces here in the U.S. can also create that same sense of community. And play, as you said, isn’t just for kids; it truly is a universal way to explore, connect, and grow into ourselves and our community, regardless of our age or which stage of life we may be in. Unfortunately, we often tend to forget this truth as we grow older; I know I do. Your post is such a great reminder that we all could use a little more play in our lives, myself included. Thanks for sharing!