As a former camp counselor and babysitter, I’ve spent a lot of time around kids. I’ve resolved fights over “who bit who first” and whose turn it is to ride the imaginary horse. The conversations I’ve overheard and the games they played never ceased to amaze me with their creativity and passion.
As adults, we don’t play like we used to. Play is not prioritized. It is forgotten. Once we enter high school, we start taking ourselves too seriously. Dr. Narvaez, Professor of Psychology at the University of Notre Dame, wrote an article discussing the therapeutic effect that play can have in adults. She wrote about the importance of spontaneity in our lives and said “spontaneity involves intention—for social connection or artistic effect…It’s focused on the present moment and building rewarding experiences with others.” When we were kids, we were constantly spontaneous. We were growing and learning more about ourselves and others in ways that we now deem as “childish”.
While my childhood is over, there are so many things I still have to learn from my younger self. And I can start by making time to play like I used to.
Photography and Creative Direction by Abigail Wornock.
Styling by Evelyn Venesky and Elena Pollitzer.
Assist and Videography by Kat Gregory.
Talent by Kyle Anderson, Max Lang, Cassidy Spring, Maddy Rose, and Valerie Martinez.