WASHINGTON 鈥� It’s not uncommon for Pat Rumbaugh’s front yard to look like it’s ready to host a small carnival or birthday bash at a moment鈥檚 notice.
The Takoma Park, Maryland, resident frequently sets out a life-size chess board, corn hole and mini tennis. Hula hoops, jump ropes and sidewalk chalk are also strewed across the lawn.
A chalkboard in her driveway reads, 鈥淪pontaneous Play Event: Wednesday, May 13, 4 p.m. Come play!鈥�
鈥淧lay is really for everyone. And just imagine, in society, if everybody gave time to play,鈥� says Rumbaugh, a former physical education teacher.
鈥淚t relieves stress; it relieves boredom 鈥� There鈥檚 a lot of learning that takes place when you play.鈥�
Throughout the Takoma Park community, Rumbaugh is known as The Play Lady. In 2009, she stared , a community-based group dedicated to promoting play. Last July, she took that mission national when she launched She鈥檚 also written the book 鈥淟et鈥檚 Play at the Playground鈥� and has delivered two TEDx talks on the subject.
But one of Rumbaugh鈥檚 favorite things to do is host spontaneous play days.
鈥淚t really makes me sad 鈥� the decline in free outdoor play,鈥� says Rumbaugh, who has organized more than 50 neighborhood play events. 鈥淲hen you have free play, you create things. Because it鈥檚 not adult-led, it鈥檚 spontaneous, it鈥檚 innovative; you see kids playing with kids of different ages.鈥�
Takoma Park resident Janee Weeda says seeing her 4-year-old and 2-year-old play with both older and younger kids is one reason she loves Rumbaugh鈥檚 play events.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a chance to meet other kids. My daughter starts Kindergarten in the fall so she meets people who will go to her school. And it also gives them an opportunity to try new activities that they normally wouldn鈥檛 try,鈥� she says.
About 20 kids showed up to Rumbaugh鈥檚 most recent spontaneous play event, but it wasn鈥檛 exclusive to kids.
Under the shade of a big tree, 88-year-old Colleen DiPaul and 66-year-old Trunesh Teklegiorgis were in the middle of a heated card game, when a small child came up to their table and challenged Teklegiorgis to a game of corn hole.
鈥淕o Tru!鈥� DiPaul called out, cheering on her friend.
DiPaul has been coming to Rumbaugh鈥檚 play events from the beginning. 鈥淲e鈥檝e met so many interesting neighbors because everybody鈥檚 invited,鈥� she says.
And she plans to keep attending the events, saying her age doesn鈥檛 deter her.
鈥淸Play] is just natural because I never grew up,鈥� she says, laughing.
Rumbaugh, 56, agrees. 鈥淚鈥檓 6, I don鈥檛 count the 50,鈥� she says.
Rumbaugh鈥檚 detached garage is stocked from floor to ceiling with bins of play equipment. Some pieces have been donated; others were purchased using grant money.
But Rumbaugh stresses that equipment isn鈥檛 always necessary for play. And a few kids in her backyard prove that point. Their shouts of 鈥淩eady or not, here I come!鈥� kick off a game of hide-and-seek.
鈥淚t doesn鈥檛 matter what you make or do, it鈥檚 what you feel like doing,鈥� Rumbaugh says.
With summer just around the corner, Rumbaugh has a few tips for parents and caregivers who want to elevate their child鈥檚 playtime. Her best piece of advice is to start filling a box with a few basic items, including a ball, a pack of cards, a puzzle and a few clothing items for dress up.
Another item she highly recommends is sidewalk chalk. 鈥淓very family that has children should have sidewalk chalk,鈥� she says.
If your children are little, Rumbaugh says to trace their bodies using the sidewalk chalk and have them fill in where their eyes should go, where their mouth should go, etc. Older kids can play hopscotch and tic-tac-toe with the chalk.
鈥淥r you could just be creative and say, 鈥楲et鈥檚 draw a picture,鈥欌�� she says. 鈥淎nd the best part about it is the next hard rain, it鈥檚 all gone.鈥�
Making mud pies, collecting pebbles and building forts with branches are also entertaining activities for kids.
鈥淟ook in your own backyard and see what you can do,鈥� Rumbaugh says.
But ultimately, the best thing parents can do when it comes to play is to bring out their own inner child.
鈥淲e know kids watch us like hawks; if we鈥檙e on our smartphone, they want to be on their smartphone. So if we make time for play, they might say, 鈥楢h that must be fun. I鈥檓 going to make time for play,鈥欌�� she says.
鈥淲e鈥檙e really trying to make an impact. 鈥� Everybody deserves to play.鈥�
