I am always the mom who is climbing on the monkey bars because Alex is always calling me over to play with him, but yesterday we went above an beyond. We started out with playing tag, which is the little man’s favorite game lately, before moving on to rolling down the hills and practicing handstand and cartwheels. It was the most fun I’ve had in a long time, and time flew. Before we knew it the sun was down and it was time to get going home.

The whole experience made me think. Why do people ever stop playing? Why does it suddenly become uncool in the 6th or 7th grade to play tag at recess? Why do we sit on benches and gossip while our kids run around at the park? Why do we complain that we have to exercise, when it comes so naturally to kids? Why do we loose the need and the drive to play?

When we stop playing, physical movement becomes a chore. If you tell a six year old they can go to the park, they are overjoyed. They run, jump, climb and have a blast. When you tell a 40 year old they have to start working out, it is a chore. It is an extra thing on a to-do list that is already miles long. I am lucky enough to live in a place where I have two adult playgrounds within walking distance, with a third opening at the piers probably next spring, but not all people are so lucky. Not everyone sees exercise as fun, and it is something that needs to change within our culture. Studies show that increased physical activity can cure diseases, everything from depression, to obesity, to diabetes can be controlled with a proper diet and more physical movement. But even so, most people turn to medication to control their health issues, instead of starting within themselves.

I don’t know why we stop playing, but I do know that I am having too much fun to stop.

Do you see exercise as fun or a chore? Do you remember how old you were when playing became uncool?

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