What About Child Care?

All this talk about going corporate, being our best boss, having board meetings and such… I started to wonder what about child care? All work and no play makes Shirley a dull girl… no… actually that’s not true. All work and no play turns Shirley into a rebellious destructive temper tantrum throwing brat!

What happens to you when you lock your inner child down for too long? How does that look for you? Does that childish, fun loving, freedom seeking, curiously bright little flame inside of you shut down or go into hiding? Are there rebellions and tantrums? Or does that beautiful precious part of you pack up and run away?

So, how about this… let’s commit to doing something childish and silly. It doesn’t HAVE to be today, but let’s at least make a play date with our inner child. Set a date, make a plan, and then actually follow through with it. No excuses, no rain checks…

Here are some ideas:

• Grab some crayons and color outside the lines.
• Finger painting is always messy and fun!
• Blow bubbles and try to catch them.
• Make a fort under the table and read stories to yourself.
• Surf kids crafts on YouTube and find something fun to do.
• Make chocolate chip cookies and eat the dough off of your sticky fingers.
• Dress up like a princess or a dinosaur… or something fun… and just be silly all day long.
• Play hide and seek with your dog… or a friend… or an imaginary friend.
• Have a tea party ~ real or imaginary.

What are your ideas? What did you enjoy playing at when you were a child? What were your favorite games? Did you play outside? Or were you more of an inside and under the covers kind of a kid? What do you think your inner child would most enjoy?

It’s perfectly OK to invite friends to your play date, but only if you make it clear that NO ONE is going to behave like a grown up until after the party is over and it’s time to clean up. Because of course, this is real life, and rooms eventually have to be cleaned, baths have to be taken, and toys have to be put away.