The Importance of Play

While in Iceland, it has been difficult for me to wrap my head around nontraditional schooling because it is different that any type of educational system that I’m used to. The typical things that come to mind when I think of regular school are lengthy books, pointless tests, boring lectures, scheduled classes, and tedious work. So far, the only shared aspect of that list in the CELL Iceland program is books, which are quite interesting and lead to good conversation within the group. Despite the unexpected differences and new experiences that come with this program, I’m learning in a different, if not better, way than I would if I were back at my college.

Traditional schooling lacks play and after being in Iceland for 3 weeks, I can see that something as simple as playing makes all the difference in the world. Play or “to engage in recreation,” as my computer’s dictionary informs me, creates a positive and fun environment to learn in. Being able to get your hands dirty and explore during a lesson allows you to connect with the topics on a deeper level of understanding because the information and knowledge are you own personal discoveries. Playing during a typical day of class opens your mind to things that may have otherwise been taken for granted or overlooked before.

After arriving at the guesthouse where we would be staying for a two-day field trip, our class went on a short walk together to stretch our legs and explore this new place that we have never been to before. The weather was beautiful and everyone was in a fantastic mood. We climbed over fences, hiked through new-growth forests, and examined magical waterfalls. If someone were to be watching us, we probably would have looked like kids in a candy store because we were having a blast. Our afternoon of class was masked by at least two hours of wandering around, exploring our surroundings, and connecting with nature. I spent the majority of the walk back to our guesthouse talking to Karin, one of our professors. She kept saying how wonderful it was that we were able to go on this walk together and see such cool sights. At first, I was a little surprised because I wasn’t used to people being so openly thankful and appreciative of the little things in life. Her happiness was contagious and I soon recognized how grateful I also was for our time spent outdoors. Nowadays, not enough people in our society are able to acknowledge the outstanding beauty around them, which saddens me. The world is such an amazing place and it deserves to be appreciated for that. As people living on this magnificent planet, we also deserve the opportunity and freedom to play in the natural beauty that surrounds us.

Growing up in a generation where mud pies and nightly games of manhunt were the norm, it’s hard to comprehend a society where kids spend all day pent up inside and have never explored the woods behind their home. One of my classmates is reading Last Child in the Woods by Richard Louv who writes about how we are suffering from a nature-deficit disorder. In other words, not enough time is being spent outdoors, which is having harmful effects on people and society. We are slowly drifting away from nature and we aren’t even phased by it.

So far, my semester in Iceland is different than anything I’ve ever done throughout my traditional school career. It is, by no means, a typical college experience comprised of scheduled classes, periodic tests, and monotone lectures, of which, I am incredibly grateful. Being able to play outdoors and constantly explore interesting things is such a privilege. A class filled with professors that aren’t afraid to run around during lessons and kids that aren’t embarrassed to play hide and seek in their free time is exactly what I need to remember the importance of play. In today’s society, where the nature surrounding us is consistently being taken advantage of, we all could use a little time spent outdoors to simply play.

-Steph Krail