“Why don’t adults play more?”
That is the question I was asked on the Twitterer this week, after posting this quote:
“You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation.” – Plato
And for a lot of people I guess that’s true. Play can be seen as something that is reserved for children or else just something responsible adults don’t have time for.
WE GOT TO PLAY JUST TO MAKE IT TODAY
Yet in some ways, it definitely does seem like play is on the increase. From mobile phone games to the increase of interest in board games; from online fantasy league sports competitions to adult colouring books; it looks like play is on the rise and that’s a good thing.
You may be surprised, as I was, to discover that the invitation for adults to use colouring books goes back all the way to renowned psychologist Carl Jung, whose reason for encouraging his patients to indulge in a little bit of keeping-within-the-lines was that he thought it would help them access their subconscious and new self-knowledge.
A lot of people are using things like colouring-in as well as simple mindless phone games or puzzles such as Sudoku as a bit of a breather from life – a de-stresser to help regain focus or to help center themselves in between activities.
WHEN PLAYING HELPS US TO GROW
When it comes to board games, there has been a large move from one dimensional single-strategy games like Monopoly, Risk, and Scrabble to multi-layered changing-board games such as Settlers of Catan, Carcassonne, and Game of Thrones. What this has added to simple game-playing is more complex strategising, collaboration, learning to read people, and problem-solving. So an overlap between work and play as well as general life.
There is also a move to combine food with games and so coffee shops containing a selection of board games customers can access or board games shops with a coffee and sandwich section are becoming more common. An example of this in Cape Town is the Big Box Cafe in Gardens that regularly hosts theme nights, competitions, and even all-night games sessions that you can enjoy while drinking a decent cappuccino and munching on a bacon, avo, and feta toasted sandwich.
As I write this article I am about to get on to a plane to Johannesburg to compete in the National Settlers of Catan competition, which is part of the Icon Comic and Games Convention 2016. I am topping my Formula 1 fantasy league on Superbru. And keeping a firm eye on the South Africa/Australia/West Indies cricket series that is heading to its climax. Because adults do play. It just looks a little different from when we were children.
How do you play? What games or activities have you found form part of your regular adulting life?