Properties of Play

I’m reading (well, actually skimming) a book called Play by Stuart Brown. Brown is a medical doctor, a former professor at U.C. San Diego, and the founder of the National Institute of Play. His book has received a bit of press lately and given that I’m always interested in learning, and playing, I thought I’d combine my two interests by reading this book.

Brown gives 7 qualities of play:

1. Apparently purposeless (done for its own sake)

2. Voluntary

3. Inherent attraction

4. Freedom from time

5. Diminished consciousness of self

6. Improvisational potential

7. Continuation desire

As youth workers, we’re known for being good at playing. But I think that there’s a continuum in youth ministry. Some of us are really good – maybe arguably too good – at playing. We need to get more intentional.

Others of us are too intentional. We don’t really know how to play with abandon. (I’m definitely more in this category.)

In an age in which teenagers take themselves seriously, I hope we as youth workers can help them play. What is it that you already do to play with kids? What would you like to do? Kids hardly ever get to play, unless it’s around video games or sports, both of which can be overly competitive. Wouldn’t it be great if kids could truly be themselves in our ministry, which includes periods of true play?

©2009 Fuller Youth Institute