Mindlessness – Redefining Play

In the Summer of 2022 I wrote the following:  Growing up in a challenged part of inner-city Glasgow, my childhood perhaps wouldn’t be described as idyllic in the classic sense but what we did have in abundance was the freedom to play – from 2-mile forays to the local loch with a scrunched-up picnic in a plastic bag to roaming through an abandoned brickworks discovering “treasure” (I’m now an inveterate beachcomber!).   

We climbed more roofs than trees and held bike races around our housing scheme.  During Wimbledon fortnight (and pre all those NO BALL GAMES signs that appeared from the mid 70’s onwards) we marked out a makeshift tennis court in the car park with 2 sticks and string for nets (no skimmers allowed!).  During the summers we had seemingly endless games of kick-the-can with kids congregating from all the surrounding houses. Yes, there were fall-outs, the occasional grumpy neighbours, inevitable childhood dramas, even bullying but those years of free play made me. They taught me resilience, to be aware of and cope with danger, to make quick decisions, and simply playing gave me an escape from other worries and grounded me in my surroundings. 

The freedom to play taught me mindlessness. To enjoy myself and my world for no particular reason, objective and agenda.   

And now here we are 2 years from that article, the mental health implications of Covid, brutal post-pandemic economics and a world in permacrisis still very much being felt by kids and teens. SATS (add US tests) and exam pressures are still very much something we hear about from kids and teens, bombarded by messages of what it takes to “achieve”. 

And yet, we sense a seed change. The smartphone debate that is raging in the UK sees a desire to help kids embrace a simpler childhood – or to at least extend the childish years. Toys with ASMR vibes and a certain mindlessness about them are thriving – witness Squishmallows one of the most successful toy launches in decades:   

"Ah Squishmallows are just so cute and comfy and you can collect them.  They are just amazing balls of comfort!" – Evie (US Trendspotter) 

Alongside and including Squishmallows we are also seeing a rise in collecting and curating amongst kids of items that we might not necessarily think of collectible. Kids and teens are not only finding comfort in collecting and perhaps gaining control in a fractious world but they are also finding the joy in just doing – sorting LEGO bricks by colour rather than by project or curating and displaying a rainbow of skincare products. 

"I feel like I am collecting skincare and makeup and I'm also trying to get free samples of stuff in shops." – Lori (UK Trendspotter) 

Of course, gaming and digital playgrounds are hugely important parts of kids’ lives but even these fantastically creative worlds come with rules, restrictions and conventions. But now more than ever I think we appreciate the importance of mindlessness and embracing idle moments and we should embrace the opportunity to think differently about downtime and play. Indeed, Millennial parents are already prioritising mental health with 81% across the US and UK stating that it’s more important to be happy than successful. 

So, let’s release that pressure valve amongst our kids and teens and encourage play for play’s sake. Let’s lose the lists, the leader boards and the rules and let’s all embrace a bit mindlessness. And me, I’m off to spend a blissful hour organising my glassware!