Play, Practice and Exercise

Children play at what they see their parents and other significant adults around them. Role play situations are used by therapists when counseling their clients. The active word is play. What children are doing is practicing what they imagine they want to become. Therapists know that practicing situations in a “safe” environment opens their clients’ minds to possibilities they previously thought unattainable. Teachers use role play exercises to teach students of all ages about many kinds of circumstances.

As a nurse I used role play with children and adults to practice uncomfortable and frightening procedures. For instance I had a three year old home infusion cancer patient inject her cloth doll with a needles syringe and apply a bandaid prior to receiving her own injection. This is a common practice with pediatricians. The same idea worked well when teaching adults how to care for a child or loved one at home.

Writing is another way to help young people make sense out of their confusing world. I encourage patients to write about their circumstances, or journal, blogging or have a book of gratitude or positive thoughts to help them overcome their individual challenges. If they are too young to write words, I give them crayons and ask them to draw something about themselves.

Like learning an instrument or any other profession practice makes perfect. Proficiency with scales and arpeggios translates to ease in mastering difficult passages. Playing for family and friends, gives confidence to perform for larger audiences. Cats and dogs, cows and pigs, and my family endured my practicing at 5 AM from age 9 until after I left home for college. Church members, school functions and other small gatherings were my pretend audiences for when I played concerts and performed symphonies. I did the same with my string students and own children. We played small recitals for family members, and brightened nursing homes, and practiced together in small ensembles in my living room before playing for weddings, offering musical “telegrams” and other events that we enjoyed doing together.

Health is improved and maintained with exercise. I walk thirty minutes at least 4 – 5 times a week or more. Others go to a gym. Playing in group sports is great exercise. The most important ingredients are physical activity and enjoyment.

Next,all you need is 30 – 60 minutes. Writing is best done everyday. But regular intervals are good too. Consider it to be recess, ora break from “Work”. Don’t beat yourself up if you can’t manage to do this consistently. However, it is quite addictive, and the comfort of the act of writing itself may help you to stick to it. Writing exercises help inspire a spark when the page stays blank. Using them will help keep your dedicated play time as creative as possible. Writing groups also help us play, by adding a competitive, or open sharing fun environement.