Why I Still Play and Why It’s Essential to How I Think
What does Kidulting look like?
Literally, a kidult is “an adult who likes doing or buying things that are intended for children” (check out the definition online).
I guess I’m a kidult then.
I got the idea about this when I attended my first toy show – lots of vendors selling new and used things. Many, many people go EVERY time. It was awesome to see visible joy of everyone talking about their toys. I mean the adults. I was there helping my older sister get Barbies. I ended up getting one also (Barbie Catwoman – Halle Berry version), plus a bunch of hot wheels. I went back for the second day, even though I didn’t need to.
How cool! I had a lot of fun for a relatively small amount of money. I bumped into people I hadn’t seen in ages and met new people. In later years, I saw many sellers multiple times, each time with a new assortment of their old and recent toys.
Toy collecting for adults
Adults with recent toys has been a new idea for me over the past 5 years. My sister and I regularly collect toys now. I have a certain amount of closet space and set of bins, so now if I want new Hot Wheels or Barbies, I need to reduce my collection by the same amount. That’s okay – every few months, I swap out new toys (and ornaments) so they each get their turn.
LEGO is another favourite. Last week I took a few time-outs from adulting to assemble an orchid set in kidult time:
Stay tuned for the third short video that will cover the completed orchid!
Toys are key to rejuvenation and recovery
You may already treasure rest in the form of sleep. If you’re athletic, you’re well-aware of building recovery days into your workout schedule. People who have busy or hectic lives also need “recovery” at least a few times per week. Think games, puzzles, and TV time.
I have “Heidi time” nearly every day, on purpose, when I don’t respond to phones or other peoples’ concerns. Even with such discipline, it’s actually hard to fit work, family, meals, and exercise, plus hobby/fun activities into every day! Some people say they don’t want or need fun. I think most mental health pro’s would disagree.
I am definitely pro-fun and pro-hobbies. Enthusiasm feeds your brain something. So do it. People choose their leisure activities, meaning anything aside from work and essential personal tasks. Something drives you to pick hockey or painting or wood working. You know that feeling of joy – it’s powerful – when you’re doing something you’re passionate about.
Okay, true, you may be very passionate about your job or an athletic thing.
You may also play with toys.
Either way, these recovery activities are important because high performance and life maintenance take energy. Most people don’t thrive if they don’t get enough rest, including wakeful active rest.
I’m a firm believer in the work-hard-play-hard approach to life. You know when you’re working, you know when you’re restful. It’s fun to work hard sometimes. I think your brain needs to do something hard every day, physically or mentally. I think a little bit of routines is satisfying too, where outcomes happen without thinking hard. Some humour every day adds something to life. Exercise every day is ideal. And so is social time. Meditation is wonderful, too.
Active recovery pays you back
Play counts for a lot.
Do you want time for rest in the form of hobbies or other rewarding activities? Can you imagine a day when you didn’t read the newspaper or do a crossword puzzle? If it’s a happy habit of yours, you likely gladly use time to ensure this gets done – you don’t make time for it, it’s already part of you.
I can’t imagine a day without creating something that didn’t exist before. Perhaps you’re the type of person that can’t go a day without a nice long walk or a call to friends or family living far away.
These kinds of physical, social, and cognitive activities are restful, despite taking effort. They rejuvenate your soul. In the moment, the sense of rest may not be evident. Sometimes it is, like when you’re exhausted after watching a very funny movie with your kids.
Want time for kidulting
I hope you’ll want time, not “make” time for kidulting. Play (toys, hobbies, sports, games) has a lot of benefits for adults. Thanks, everyone. I’d like to see more talk of this kidulting stuff.
I’ll leave you to think about your active recovery and leisure time, while I go to my next activity for the evening: I’m going to sit down with my Arturia MicroFreak synthesizer. Tonight is a fine time to try out all the knobs again.