So says Harry, aged 2, who attended a playing out session hosted by Playbox in July 2023. Harry’s command raises up the voice of the child in a public realm where children and play aren’t valued or even considered.
And yet spaces that work for children and their families work for everyone. That doesn’t mean plonking fixed playground ‘or pretentious equipment of any sort, but rather space at an immediately convenient and interesting place.’ (1)
Furthermore, we all need to play more, even as adults. This means doing something silly and spontaneous without a fixed outcome. Harry’s command is simple and direct ‘every puddle must be jumped in’ but many of us will choose to ignore it because we’re too busy, too tired or too embarrassed. And yet play is good for our mental health and well-being and connects us to other people (2).
So, find the nearest or biggest or best puddle to jump in. Reconnect with your inner child and remember the joy of puddle jumping!
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(1) Jane Jacobs, American Urbanist in ‘The Death and Life of Great American Cities,’ 1961. Also Colin Ward says in ‘The Child and the City’ 1978 – “One should be able to play everywhere, easily, loosely, and not forced into a ‘playground’ or ‘park’. The failure of an urban environment can be measured in direct proportion to the number of playgrounds.’
(2) How to Add More Play to Your Grown-Up Life, Even Now — New York Times.
