I've recently had the opportunity to visit a few different experiences, which have all led me to think about play and, more specifically, how I used to play as a child.
Life then was full of play, whether that was role play, making up my own shows or running around the park.
A few weeks ago I spent a fantastic afternoon at Pop Air, the Balloon Museum World pop-up experience in Miami. It was midweek, so I had most of the rooms almost to myself, which helped me drop any inhibitions about interacting with the art.
I mean, when would I usually just bounce off giant inflatable shapes? Not since those bouncy castle kids’ birthday parties!
But here I was playing — creating shapes with giant polygons, peeking through strings of silver balloons into infinity mirrors and, best of all, sitting on a swing to make butterfly wings move
Mariposa by Christopher Schardt was simply mesmerizing. I stayed on that swing for 20 minutes, watching the butterfly react to my movement. Such a simple concept, yet it gave me this wonderful sense of freedom.
But as I was carried away, I realized I couldn’t remember how to make the swing move. Should I lean forward? Lean back?
Something that comes so naturally as a child was no longer instinctive. I actually had to think about it. That made me a little sad. Ive missed playing like this.
I guess as adults we get busy and don’t give ourselves enough space to play.
So when I reached the giant ball pool of Hypercosmo, my shoes were off and I jumped in with wild abandon! I floated and waded through the pool and left reality behind for a while.
With my appetite for play now well and truly awake, I visited Level99 Entertainment at Disney Springs with a wonderful group of TEA friends. I embraced every room — climbing walls, solving puzzles, avoiding piranhas and working in tandem. Bite-sized, varied and repeatable was a win-win for me as a non-gamer and someone who has to be rescued from escape rooms!
And, bonus, I got to meet new people as we all tried to figure out what we were doing.
Together, we made a fantastic team — and it reminded me why I love the themed entertainment world.
Fueled by my now very active inner child, I headed to the Museum of Ice Cream in Miami.
Of course, I played the carnival games and jumped into the ball pit of sprinkles!
Over the last month, these experiences have rekindled my need for play. To let go. To stop worrying about doing it right, whether people are watching, or whether I look silly.
I want to find that child who would simply jump on the swing, instinctively make it move and enjoy that wonderful sensation of freedom.
As a creator in the themed entertainment and experience world, I spend my career creating opportunities for other people to escape everyday life.
Perhaps I needed reminding to do it myself more often.
Level 99
Mariposa
Pop Air ball pool fun!
Sprinkles !
Sunshine makes the world sparkle!
