How to Have a Playful Home
- Allison Weeks
- Apr 16
- 6 min read
companion blog to Monday Motivation #24, Rhythms of Play
"All work and no play make Jane a dull girl." This classic proverb (altered for present feminine company) succinctly expresses important truth about the human condition; work is important, but if not tempered by rest and play it will lead to dullness of character, wit, strength and spirit.
In our quest to establish good rhythms & routines in our homes, we must not forget to make time for play. Neglecting to enjoy God's presence, blessings and creation through lighthearted play and delight will dim the light of Christ in us, making us dull when we could be radiant with joy.
I cannot tell you exactly what play looks like for you and your family. However, we can look to God's revelation (in nature and in the Word) to get an idea of what healthy, dare we say, holy, play looks like.
Play In Nature
In both young animals and children, play is a delightful form of training. Bear cubs play at fighting one another to prepare for adulthood when they will have to fight for their lives or the lives of their own offspring. Dolphins, horses, monkeys, even fish and some insects have been observed in some kind of play to hone skills they will need later in life. The American Academy of Pediatrics states that for little humans, "Play is essential to development because it contributes to the cognitive, physical, social, and emotional well-being of children and youth." [source]
Despite these very scientific and logical reasons for play, scientists cannot really explain why some animals and all children play just for the sake of playing. And what about nature itself? Is it filled with delight simply because we find it so, or does it have a sense of play, joy and delight in and of itself?
I am not promoting animism here, but writers and artists have long drawn our attention to the playfulness of nature. There is no end to poems about "dancing wind", "running streams", "singing hills" and "wandering clouds". While poets and scientists may not be able to fully explain playfulness in nature and people, God gives us some clues in His Word.
Play in The Word
The reason why nature and mankind alike delight in play is because we were made by a Creator who is Himself, all delight. I love this paraphrase of Psalm 96:11-12 from The Message about the playfulness of nature before its Creator:
Let’s hear it from Sky,
With Earth joining in,
And a huge round of applause from Sea.
Let Wilderness turn cartwheels,
Animals, come dance,
Put every tree of the forest in the choir—
And Isaiah 55:12 promises the returning exiles,
"You will indeed go out with joy and be peacefully guided;
the mountains and the hills will break into singing before you,
and all the trees of the field will clap their hands." [CSB]
In his article, "Play and the Christian Perspective,"James B Jordan argues that the Bible gives its philosophy of play in Proverbs 8:30-31 which he says literally reads,
"Then I was beside Him, a master workman;
and I was daily His delight,
playing always before Him,
playing in the world, His earth,
and having my delight in the sons of men."
Jordan concludes that this is Wisdom, the pre-incarnate Christ, describing His sheer fun and delight in the creation. The same word for play here is used of Samson's sporting, David's dancing and Leviathan's splashing.
When animals and nature play they, "...declare the glory of God," and, "proclaim the work of His hands" (Psalm 19). When Christians play we bring God Glory, declaring to ourselves and the world that He is all Goodness and we delight to delight ourselves in Him.
Some Practical Ideas
Just like making time for regular rest and worship, making time for play will require some intentionality and steadfast determination. To establish a rhythm of play in your home you may not want to go the route of "forced family fun time". That could lead to resentment and the opposite of joyful play. However, you can certainly model a playful spirit and create an environment conducive to the kind of play that will delight your household.
Here are a few ideas that apply for most households, with or without children. Remember, play is for everyone. You are never too young or too old for play.
Board games, cards and dice placed on an easy to access shelf, drawer or basket can provide a go-to source of play. Be sure to have options for all ages and do your best to keep games organized. When we were homeschooling we played a lot of games and the boxes never held up. I bought XL ziplock baggies to hold all the pieces and game board for each game and we stored the bags in a large basket. I put the instructions/rules in a 3 ring binder that we kept on the shelf next to the basket.
Puzzles of all kinds are a great brain-sharpening form of play for individuals and groups alike. If you are fortunate enough to have room for a dedicated puzzle table, by all means, keep one going all the time there. Otherwise, you can purchase puzzle mats or boards to make your puzzle working space mobile so that you can easily store it away when you're not working on it.
The XL ziplock bags also work well for storing puzzles. Cut the box top apart and store the flat image of the puzzle with the pieces in the bag. Or if you want to preserve the box, make a color copy of the photo and put in the baggie with the pieces. Laminate for extra sturdiness if desired.
Music as a form of play will delight your ears and lift your spirits. Take up an instrument you've always wanted to learn or pick up the one you've neglected for a while. Even something as simple as shaking a maraca, tambourine or other percussion instruments to the beat of your favorite song can be a fun way to play with music.
Dance
Combine music with movement and you have a multi-sensory playful experience that will flood your body with feel-good endorphins. Put on your favorite song and dance with all your might around your kitchen as David danced before the Lord (2 Samuel 6:14). Grab your husband and slow dance in the kitchen or learn a few fun line dances together out on the driveway. So what if the neighbors think you're weird.
Theatre & Storytelling
Put on a play. Act out a favorite story together. Read aloud using different voices for each character. Have a puppet show. Make a short film. Tell jokes to one another around the dinner table, Dad jokes encouraged.
Art
Get messy with paint, chalk, clay, wood, yarn, paper mache or any other material you fancy. It doesn't have to be perfect to be playful and enjoyable. Take a 5 minute break, grab your preschooler's crayons, and sketch your cleaning bucket and mop. Get the play dough out and play "sculptionary"...like Pictionary but with play dough. Try your hand at creating silhouetts, a favorite Regency Era pastime. Make some art just for the sheer delight of making.
Nature
Get out and do "cartwheels with the wilderness" (see above, Psalm 96). Hike, bike, stroll, row, run, frolic and enjoy creation. Fully immerse yourself in the surroundings by using all of your senses. Listen to the birds, the wind and the insects. Look at the colors and shapes. Feel the textures of leaves, flowers, tree bark and sand. Stop and smell the roses-literally.
Sport
Remember, sports don't have to be organized to qualify as play. Driveway basketball or pickleball, backyard baseball or football are all great options that often draw in the neighbor kids.
Old Fashioned Fun
Dust off your roller skates and jump rope for a little retro play. Jacks, pick-up-sticks, hopscotch and hula-hoops are just a few of the simple but very enjoyable blasts from the past you could experiment with.
Questions to Consider
Do you regularly enjoy God's presence, blessings and creation through lighthearted play? If yes, how?
Which of the above suggestions would you like to explore as a means of practicing play? How will you implement it into your weekly rhythm?
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