Play for Health: Can Play Help to Keep the Doctor Away?
When did we stop playing? I used to play intramural softball and soccer. My friends and I used to meet up to play volleyball. We used to throw the football around before college football games. I can’t remember the last time I did any of these things.
Yesterday, my daughter and I were at my niece’s soccer game. At halftime my daughter looked up at me and and said, “want to race?!” I thought about this for a moment before responding, “YES!” Some of the other adults around me giggled at this interaction and others looked at me like I was crazy. I quickly decided to conduct a social experiment by jesting, “anyone want to come with us?” This resulted in most of the other spectators looking at me like I had completely lost my mind. “Your loss….”
My daughter and I lined up on the track and after a count to 3 we took off running! She’s faster than I remember and soon my breathing became heavier. I picked up my pace to make her work for her win (she’s 6). After our race we were both laughing and smiling from ear to ear. I glanced back at the stands and people were watching us with smiles on their faces. We then grabbed a soccer ball and played on the field until halftime was over.
I am a single parent so when my daughter asks me to play, I play! Before I became a single parent, my husband and I would look at each other in situations like this to see who would entertain our daughter’s request, thinking that the winner was whoever got to sit out. Even though my perspective has changed after my husband passed away last year, I now look back and think, “what idiots!” The obvious win is getting to play! Instead of sitting sedentarily for a full hour, my daughter and I got about 20 minutes of physical activity. Our heart rates went up, we breathed more heavily, we smiled, and we laughed. We played!
Next time your child, friend, or partner asks you to get out and play, I challenge you to look at it as an opportunity to move your body, release endorphins, and bond with your loved one. You will never regret the quality time (and the calories) spent!