Time Stamped Notes:

0:00  

If your eight year old you

0:01  

could walk right up to you and ask you one question. Just one question. What do you think he would say

0:11  

to you?

0:28  

Come on play for change. Welcome to playing for a change. This is your host Brandi Heather. This podcast is dedicated to navigating life's messiness and unpredictability where we use play

0:41  

as a catalyst

0:42  

for change and connection. Come on in this playground is for everyone on the playground today, I think we need to talk.

0:53  

There are a whole bunch of really frightening things happening in the world right now. And we need to talk about about the importance of staying in play during times of crisis.

1:05  

Do you know what happens to inclusion when people feel afraid of what will happen next or something unexpected changes their way of living or they feel vulnerable to loss or massive change. Inclusion does not flourish here.

1:25  

Maybe you remember a time in your childhood when someone told you you had to share a toy or a treat or candy or a friend or a parent. I remember one of my first teaching experiences was in an elementary school classroom.

1:42  

There was a young man who had just arrived from Ethiopia the week before and he was a student in grade one. It did snow that morning and his eyes. I will never forget the complete stop in your tracks look of awe and wonder this Young men looked at that white cold magic coming down from the sky and was standing in utter amazement of what it was.

2:12  

About an hour and a half after an outside break, the students were writing at their desks and I started to see a puddle forming under the desk of this young man. He had not noticed and when I went over to see if there was something I could do, I whispered and brought a paper towel, but he had no idea looking everywhere for a source. And then he reached into his desk and took out what was left of a very small snowball. He just looked up at me and said, This is mine.

2:51  

You see he had made a snowball outside and had snuck it into his desk because he was afraid that we would take it away. Make him share this treasure. And this snowball was melting right in front of his eyes and tears started streaming down his face as he felt we had taken it away or made it go away as a punishment for wanting to have it all to himself.

3:18  

As children sharing is a learned skill and a practice skill. How many people remember hiding something you didn't want to share in a place you thought no one would find it. You see often if we have something and we believe there is not enough for everyone. We will keep it close. That's where the saying "Did you bring enough for everyone?" came from.

3:44  

That includes things like snowballs and the best spot in the theater and a great job and money and cars and our best friend and food and water and toilet paper. When we are worried we will collect all of those Things that are most important. This is called scarcity. And like it sounds, it often makes us feel scared.

4:11  

Scarcity also includes social and emotional factors, including connection and respect, time, advice and kind words and yes, inclusive practices like tolerance and flexibility and adaptability and resilience. Taking the time to ask before judging or assuming what someone intends or taking one more minute to explain. scarcity also sometimes leads us into dividing us and then good and bad, sick and well smart and not smart, etc, etc.

4:53  

Because when we feel overwhelmed by our needs for physical and social safety, we feel need to divide and box similar things to make sense of them t shirts in one drawer and underwear and another and socks in another that's why we have drawers so instead of taking the time to consider the perspective of others where they're coming from are trying to explain we put people in drawers just like when we fold their clothes and put them away. Why do we do that? So we know where things are. It's predictable and the same with people.

5:34  

When we are overwhelmed we go to a drawer system

5:38  

Young people are this

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and old people are that

5:41  

and sick people here

5:42  

and all the people from there and

5:44  

all the people I don't know

5:46  

and all wheelchair people

5:47  

and all gay people

5:48  

all men

5:48  

all homeless people all front desk people

5:51  

administration all nurses

5:52  

all doctors, all welders, all plumbers

5:57  

Do you see what happens?

6:00  

What drawer are you in?

6:02  

Let's see, I'm in the white cisgender female straight privilege mom, artists business owner, teacher mentally ill short but sharp dresser drawer. But it depends on the lens you choose to see me with? And at what moment.

6:21  

So how can we afford to play in a time of scarcity and dividing and drawers and hiding our most precious things and protecting ourselves physically and socially and emotionally. I would argue this is why we need to find it and hold on to it. Because play is where we can be authentic and make connections and laugh and be vulnerable to something new and different. And try and fall down and get back up. We find resilience here. in play.

6:57  

We find determination and relaxation. And we do things that soothe the drawers and dividers. Research indicates that play deprivation can contribute to a reduced sense of personal control, reduced ability to control emotions, increased social isolation and reduced happiness, all of which are associated with anxiety and or depression. In a time when we are reducing social contact and increasing social isolation. Let's consider what we need to survive. It's not just food and water. Without play and playfulness we will struggle to come up with the creative and innovative ideas, resilience and persistence The world needs. And the world needs answers and I believe the solutions are always in play.

7:50  

They are there but we need to provide a space for them to grow. I know you may be worried about what is next, and what tomorrow looks like or What is happening in this moment? What I'm asking you to do is to hold on to the things that give you that moment to smile across the room at someone having a difficulty. to pop a bubble with your gum and giggle that you did it in a place you probably shouldn't have to disconnect from the pace and notice something small you are grateful for. And to build a fort out of cushions and have a picnic with your kids or someone you love. We can't afford not to play.

8:35  

That's all from the playground today. Thanks for playing. Remember, this playground is for everyone. Thanks for playing today. If you want to hear more about how finding your play is connected to mental health, business, and education, subscribe on Apple podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to your favorite podcast play for a change AMPED2PLAY was founded on the belief that everyone has active movement potential. That's an AMP, in which movement encompasses our ability to move ourselves physically, mentally, socially, or emotionally. Movement is change and whether in community health or education or corporate sectors, our goal is to deliver education of active movement potential. Find your AMP today.

8:35  

AMPED2PLAY INC. www,amped2play.com

Brandi Heather [email protected]

Transcribed by https://otter.ai

Find your play and remind yourself and others that finding it is a gift…

In the show notes I have included phone numbers and text lines that connect you to International mental health resources and crisis lines.

Resources in Canada

I'm in crisis

• Find a crisis centre in your province or territory.
• ementalhealth.ca to find mental health services, and support in your community.
• Canadian Mental Health Association - find your local CMHA office to access support and resources.
• Kids Help Phone - visit online or call 1-800-668-6868 to speak to a counsellor

I need to talk to someone (if you are not in crisis)

• ConnexOntario to find services for drug and alcohol, gambling or mental health issues.
• Canadian Mental Health Association to find your local CMHA to access mental health help, support and resources.
• Kids Help Phone - visit them online or call 1-800-668-6868 to speak to a counsellor.
• Transgender Crisis Line: 1-877-330-6366.
• Find a therapist in your local area.
• How to find a psychologist.
• If you are in high school, speak to a counsellor, public health nurse or other relevant staff at your Student Health Services.
• Most Canadian colleges and universities provide free counselling to their students.

Resources in the United States of America

I'm in crisis

• Local crisis centre.
• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline - call 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255) to be directed to a crisis centre closest to you.
• National Hopeline - call 1-800-SUICIDE (1-800-784-2433) to speak to a crisis counsellor.
• The Trevor Project - provides crisis and suicide support for LGBTQ youth, 1-866-4-U-TREVOR (1-866-488-7386).

I need to talk to someone (if you are not in crisis)

• If you are in high school, you can also speak to a counsellor, public health nurse or other relevant staff at Student Health Services for additional support.
• Suicide Survivor Support Group Directory if you've lost somebody to suicide, locate a support group in your area.
• Talk to your family doctor
• Look in your local phonebook to locate a counsellor, therapist or local helpline near you.

Resources outside Canada and the United States

• International Association for Suicide Prevention
• International Suicide Hotlines

Social Media Resources

• If you have seen suicidal content on social media, you should contact law enforcement and (if applicable) officials on Facebook, Twitter or Tumblr directly.
• The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline also assists users on Facebook, Twitter and Youtube.