“We have to continually be jumping off cliffs and developing our wings on the way down.”
― Kurt Vonnegut, If This Isn’t Nice, What Is?: Advice for the Young
When it comes to fitting in a few seconds of play, as adults it can be hard. We recommend pulling together your own “toolkit for play” that you can easily keep in a drawer on desktop, at work or home, to make it super easy to take a break. Try to work in the habit of taking a simple minute or two to just play, maybe when you realize you are avoiding or procrastinating or having trouble concentrating, that’s a great time to give your brain a break. Then you can just take something out of the box and fiddle around with it. No rules, but remember, no one is grading you on this- make a weird object, play around with paperclips to make a fun design on your desk, use post it notes to create a colourful grid on the wall and move them around till you like the design. Then simply put the supplies away until next time!
It can feel daunting sometimes when told ‘have a toolkit for play’ available for use. What goes in it? Where do I get this stuff? What do I do with it?
For ultra creative types, just about any material can be played with, but for the rest of us when a creative block strikes it can be hard to focus on things to do for fun. Here is our carefully curated list of items to collect, store in a tote or tackle box, smartly labelled “playthings’. No, your mother in law won’t understand……
Modelling clay- available at most dollar stores or discount play stores. This is a vital piece as it is massively open ended, AND it provides sensory input for your hands. There is evidence that manipulating resistive substances such as modelling clay, sensory balls or tennis balls can actually lower your systolic blood pressure.
Toothpicks- again, available for a dollar at your local store. Useful with the modelling clay for building, carving, gluing, poking and writing with.
A glue stick- not essential, and if you really feel like it, go for PVA glue instead- it sticks more stuff!
Ball of string or yarn- raid your Granny’s stash or again, visit your local dollar store.
Aluminum foil- this stuff is awesome! You can sculpt, fold, and draw on it, lus super fun sensory input.
Markers- kids markers are just fine, but if you really want satisfaction go for Sharpie brand permanents….smooth! Better yet, try both.
Paperclips- for more than just paperwork!
Elastics- bright colours. Use for wrapping, pin board art, making a bouncy ball….so many uses!
Lego blocks- now, these are pricey. If on a budget you need to find a friend with kids who is ready to give away some of the four billion blocks they have. You don’t need a huge amount- even twenty or so can make things.
Mixed cardstock: you’ll get this at a dollar store or craft store, usually in the scrapbooking/craft area. Great for drawing, folding, poking pin holes in.
Thumbtacks- I recommend the type with a plastic end as they are easier to use- you can make all types of art using the tacks, string, elastics and markers, as well as use them in the modelling clay and cardstock.
Chalk or oil pastels- okay, these are harder to find; your local art supply store or craft store may have them, sometimes larger department stores as well. These are well worth the investment, these are sensory heaven and versatile to boot.
A variety of junk drawer items such as;
A pickle fork
Skewers
Old keys
A tennis ball
A ping pong ball
Coffee filters
Dressmakers pins
Old photos
Buttons
Playing cards
Poker chips
These become the ‘extra’ in your play. As your play skills blossom, so will the ideas that you can add to the play experience.
