Play Day

This Saturday, the Carnegie Museum of Art is celebrating “Play Day.”  They’ll be opening up the Lozziwurm installation which you may have seen by their entrance on Forbes Avenue, and hosting other playful activities inside the museum.  There is a Fred Rogers quote about play which I’ve always loved: “Play is often talked about as if it were a relief from serious learning.  But for children play is serious learning. Play is really the work of childhood.” At some point as we get older we sometimes forget the importance of play, but it’s just as important for adults.  If you aren’t able to make it to the Carnegie Museum of Art’s Play Day, these suggestions might help you get into the spirit of play at your leisure.

Eat More Dirt: Diverting and Instructive Tips for Growing and Tending an Organic Garden: Playing in the dirt is a cornerstone of childhood, but it doesn’t have to end!  Gardening lets you get your hands dirty like a grown up.

Good Masters!  Sweet Ladies!: Voices from a Medieval Village: Granted, this book is located in our Teen Department, but even if your teen years are long behind you, playing pretend never really gets old.  This collection of one-person plays set in the 13th Century will let you hone your acting chops in privacy while bringing back nostalgic memories of visiting Renaissance Faires.

Party Games for Adults: Icebreakers, Parlor Games, and Party Tips That Will Make Your Guests Flip: When did parlor games go out of fashion?  I have to admit that I harbor a love of old-timey parlor games, and they can be a great diversion from talking about work when you’ve gathered a group of friends together.

Holy Spokes!: A Biking Bible for Everyone or Running with the Kenyans: Passion, Adventure, and the Secrets of the Fastest People on Earth: The two things that make me feel most childlike are biking and running; something about the freedom of both reminds me of running around or riding my bike as a child.

Beyond Love and Work: Why Adults Need to Play: Finally, if you aren’t quite convinced that adults need playtime, this is a serious book about not being serious.

-Irene