Have we forgotten how to play with our children?

A friend of mine shared a story that stuck with me. Two years ago, she had a moment of realization: she didn’t know how to play with kids.

It happened just after the pandemic, when her daughter’s school organized an outdoor event at a public garden. The idea was to encourage families to step outside, let kids play, and enjoy a sense of freedom after the lockdowns.

When the school’s founder asked the parents to gather the children, most of them, including my friend, tried calling their kids with phrases like “Beta, idhar aao” or “Come here, we’re starting!” But the kids didn’t respond easily—it was chaos.

Then the founder stepped in. With a huge smile, she started cheering, singing, and playfully calling the kids. Within minutes, the children gathered around her, excited and laughing. My friend said she was amazed at how effortless it seemed for the founder, and that’s when it hit her: she didn’t know how to connect with children in such a playful way.

She admitted that she had probably never learned it—or perhaps had just forgotten how to be a kid herself.

Since then, she has made a conscious effort to change. She’s let go of worrying about how she might look to others and has embraced the joy of being silly. Now, she happily climbs trees, jumps around, and follows her child’s lead, rediscovering what it means to truly play.

One story she shared really stood out. A few years ago, she took her daughter to a pool with no plan other than to let her decide when to leave. For 2.5 hours, they splashed and played, the only ones in the water, until her daughter finally said she was done.

Now, her daughter is seven and avoids swimming lessons but loves water. She once told her, “Dad, I was born to swim!” When asked if she wanted to learn formally, her daughter replied, “No, I’ll learn by myself.” Over the years, she did just that—not to win medals or earn accolades, but to feel confident and safe in the water, all while having fun.

Another mother recently shared a similar experience. She started taking her 21-month-old to the pool, where they were often the only ones splashing around. Other parents would approach, asking if she was teaching her child to swim or looking for classes. But when she said they were just playing, the conversations ended quickly. Despite the perfect weather and the joy of simply being in the water, no one else seemed interested in just splashing with their kids.

This made my friend reflect on how, in our fast-paced, goal-oriented world, we often prioritize structured lessons and measurable progress over unstructured play. It’s not just that many of us have forgotten how to play with our kids—it’s that we’ve stopped letting them play freely at all.

At Navriti, we recognize that play is more than just fun—it’s a fundamental way children express themselves, build confidence, and connect with the world around them. That’s why we integrate neuroscience-backed communication strategies into both classroom interactions and parent workshops, ensuring that children feel heard, understood, and empowered to express themselves. By creating a space where children are encouraged to explore, take the lead, and communicate openly, we nurture their social, emotional, and cognitive development.

At Navriti, we believe that learning and play aren’t separate—they go hand in hand. We integrate play into academics, making learning joyful, engaging, and meaningful. By allowing children to explore, experiment, and discover, we nurture curiosity, creativity, and a lifelong love for learning. Whether it’s through a hands-on science activity, a math game, or a storytelling session that sparks imagination, we ensure that every lesson feels like an adventure.

Her advice is simple: take your child outside and just let them play. And if you can, join in and be a little silly. You might just rediscover the joy of being a kid again.