{"id":24043,"date":"2025-05-14T12:58:15","date_gmt":"2025-05-14T18:58:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/resources2.soundstrue.com\/?p=24043"},"modified":"2025-05-14T13:03:11","modified_gmt":"2025-05-14T19:03:11","slug":"take-your-inner-child-on-playdates","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/resources2.soundstrue.com\/blog\/take-your-inner-child-on-playdates\/","title":{"rendered":"Take Your Inner Child on Playdates"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t

Have you ever been ice-skating before? It sounds like a fun winter activity (especially if you enjoy the cold, like I do), but it can be frustrating and even downright scary if you\u2019re new to it.<\/span><\/p>

Picture this: I took my nephew ice-skating for the first time, full of excitement to see him experience some joy. At twelve years of age, he was already taller than me and had size thirteen feet thanks to his six-foot-eight-inch-tall dad (my brother). The biggest rental skates they had came with worn-out laces rather than the secure plastic bindings all of the other skates had. I could see that they were a little loose around the ankle, but we tied them as best we could and hit the ice.<\/span><\/p>

If you\u2019ve ever seen a newborn deer figuring out how to walk for the first time, you can picture my nephew\u2019s first time on ice skates. His ankles kept knocking in, and he was reaching to hold onto anything for dear life as he wobbled around the perimeter of the rink. It was difficult to watch, not because it was embarrassing, but because I know how hard he is on himself when he\u2019s not immediately good at new things. I wanted to see him having fun, and instead I saw him frustrated and discouraged as all he could do was attempt to remain vertical.<\/span><\/p>

I figured it couldn\u2019t get worse, so I suggested that we trade in his skates for a smaller pair with the more secure plastic buckles to see if that made any difference. He went along with it, probably just to humor me, and we stuffed his feet into some size twelves and made sure his ankle support was good as could be. When I tell you it was a night and day difference, I\u2019m not exaggerating. Suddenly he was speeding around the ice like a pro, lapping past me and his sisters with the biggest smile on his face. He circled the rink over and over again; as his confidence grew, so did his joy, and he even began to try tricks and spins. All he had needed was one little adjustment to his foundation, and he suddenly felt safe enough to have fun.<\/span><\/p>

Here\u2019s the thing: most of us go around in our lives on rickety old skates with worn-out laces. When your only focus is doing your best to remain upright, there\u2019s not much room for joy or play. The big shame in that is that play often is the medicine we most need.<\/span><\/p>

In my experience, the crux of inner child work is reconnecting to the part of you who knows how to play.<\/b> Sometimes you may first need to make some adjustments that allow you to feel safe enough to play, like practicing nervous system regulation and self-soothing. Once you\u2019ve done that, though, your goal is to invite in as much play as possible. And not adult versions of play that are really just a facade for dissociative behaviors, but real, childlike wonder.<\/span><\/p>

Invite in curiosity and awe and silliness and uninhibited joy. Start by returning to the things you loved to do when you were a kid. Maybe that means setting aside time each weekend for arts and crafts. Maybe it means participating in physical activities that feel like play, such as dancing, swimming, sports, or jumping on a trampoline. Maybe it just means giving yourself permission to skip while you walk or sing while you drive.<\/span><\/p>

The point is, when you bring those younger versions of you into your present-day life, you not only have more fun, but you also experience more healing. We were never meant to lose touch with our inner child. Yes, it\u2019s important to learn how to be self-sufficient and responsible, and aging is inevitable. But it\u2019s equally important not to take yourself too seriously along the way.<\/span><\/p>

Try This<\/b><\/p>

Your homework is to set regular playdates with your inner child. Do things that sound like fun, even if they don\u2019t make logical sense. Allow yourself to be as carefree and openhearted as possible, without judging the things that bring you joy. The sillier it feels, the more on point you likely are. Here are some examples to consider:<\/span><\/p>