The Playground

[avant-garde]

Hey everyone! 

Over in another thread we were talking about our "inner child", what play looks like and how we incorporate kids activities in our everyday life to help us learn to be the children we never got to be. 

I am one to completely embrace my inner child, we go on adventures, watch movies like Madeline and The Little Princess, she likes to paint and be creative but has the most beautiful heart and gentle soul.

She is the daughter I never got to be and I'm the mother I always wanted to be. 

So I thought to make a thread just for them, where we can be the childlike version of ourselves, share the excitement and encourage each other to embrace our inner child to find the healing they can bring to our lives. 

1. What do you do for fun? 
2. Is there anything particularly silly that you do to make others laugh? 
3. What movies make you burst into giggles? 
4. How do you bring yourself joy through children's activities? 

@Jynx @Till23 @Appleblossom 

[tyme]

Thank you so much for setting up this thread and providing space for the community to embrace their inner child. @avant-garde 

We recognise each person is on their individual journey, and whilst some are ready to embrace their inner child, others are not - and that's okay. Please share as little or as much as you feel comfortable and reach out if you need support.

@avant-garde and others, in terms of the questions:

1. What do you do for fun? 

@avant-garde ! I think you've found out my secret as to why I hang around kids ALL THE TIME!!! It is so I can have fun with them, be like them, and not look odd. Why do I take the kids to Legoland? Because I want to go and you need to take a kid with you! 

2. Is there anything particularly silly that you do to make others laugh? 

Just existing can make people laugh. My youngest niece is an absolute clown so when I laugh at her, so does everyone else 🙂

3. What movies make you burst into giggles? 

I don't watch movies per se, but who needs movies when you've got kids in the house? That's 24 hour entertainment!

One childhood book/film/cartoon I love though is Heidi. She is such a happy child. So content. So loving. When I read the book, my heart is filled with happiness - honestly. And I've never had that feeling from a book before. It's close to indescribable.

4. How do you bring yourself joy through children's activities? 

Just be a kid at heart. Get dirty. Get inquisitive and let your mind be in awe.

[avant-garde]

1. What do you do for fun?

I get creative! I like jigsaw puzzles, writing poetry (I wrote one about my cat a few days ago). I think one of my favourite activities is going to op shops because there are such funny things sometimes! I found a book called "catitude" today, cats with attitude. And kids science kits! I love them!

2. Is there anything particularly silly that you do to make others laugh?

I have the weird habit of putting various edible substances on my nose to make my best friend laugh. It started with coffee froth and progressed to ice cream with sprinkles then bbq sauce, because my tongue can reach my nose and just lick it off, but then I don't like the feeling of a wet nose and so wipe it with my finger

3. What movies/shows make you burst into giggles?

Madeline, My Little Pony, Octonauts, Postman Pat, Rugrats, Hotel for Dogs... Anne of Green Gables is my book series of choice

4. How do you bring yourself joy through children's activities?

I like playing on playgrounds and happy meals. I also have a collection of kids activity books and get really excited when there are bubbles! 

@tyme @Jynx 

[Gremlin24]

@avant-garde such a great idea to put this out there. 

I struggle to answer questions but I'll do my best.

1. What do you do for fun? 

I enjoy colouring, painting, origami, loom bands and basically any crafts. I also enjoy walking and nature, I love having a swing on playgrounds when there's noone around. 

2. Is there anything particularly silly that you do to makes others laugh?

I really can't answer this one as I don't have people to make laugh. 

3. What movies make you burst into giggles? 

Shrek and Ice age always make me laugh. I also love Anne of green gables both the books and the movies. 

4. How do you bring yourself joy through children's activities? 

Things like loom bands and Lego keep me occupied and keep my hands busy and I enjoy being creative. 

Hope that's OK. 

[avant-garde]

@Gremlin24 

Of course it's ok!

I have Lego too, I was devastated when they got rid of the Lego dots!

I loved the Lego dots Harry Potter range! With the hedgewig pencil holder! 

It made me laugh and decorate and have fun, then thinking "I made that" showing a glimmer of pride when it's used. 

Found my Lego dots big box the other day and decorated it with the different coloured dots.

Do you ever just lay on the ground and try and find pictures in the clouds?

[Gremlin24]

@avant-garde oh the Lego dots were fun. 

I don't lay on the ground but I definitely watch the clouds and look for pictures. 

[Appleblossom]

I lay on the ground and look at clouds too @Gremlin24 

lol

@great thread @avant-garde 

I also like smiling and interacting non verbally with babies and toddlers… when it seems helpful or appropriate…

[Gremlin24]

@Appleblossom seems like a few of us enjoy watching the clouds ⛅️ 

[avant-garde]

@Appleblossom 

I do the non-verbal thing too! 

Some mums glare at me but most just laugh and smile

[Patches59]

@avant-garde @Gremlin24 @Appleblossom 

What do I do for fun?
Lego, colour, dot to dots. Patting and playing with every dog and cat I can.  Making things

movies/dvds I enjoy - Little House on the prairie (also reading the books), Hotel for dogs, Happy Feet, Kung Fu Panda, Zootopia

childrens activities that bring me joy - craft things, jigsaws, colouring in, using my imagination of how things look whilst reading books (at least third of my books are supposedly written for people up to 12yo), solving puzzles