Who do you think will be “it” at the end of the Treehouse Interview with Kerri Schiller?
{0:30}
Q. Why do you study play in adulthood?
A. The academic world was missing the answer when I went to look for it.
{1:41}
Q. What was it that piqued your curiosity?
A. Noticing that play-centered programming for kids far outnumbers any play-centered programming for people my age.
{2:54}
Q. What did you do about the gap you found in programming?
A. I started a class, at the YMCA, called Recess for Adults.
{3:39}
Q. What did you notice while leading Recess for Adults?
A.
– I would come out in a dramatically better, more optimistic mood.
– Other participants would laugh and interact in ways I didn’t see in other YMCA classes.
{5:52}
Q. How could a park district mimic your Recess for Adults class?
A.
– Remember most grownups have different barriers to play than kids.
– Create an environment where people feel safe to do something that is not always socially acceptable. The facilitator has to be willing to make an idiot out of themselves first.
– Create a no running rule. This will even the playing field for age and physical ability differences and reduces the risk of injury.
– Games to try: tag games, four square, four square volleyball, group juggle
Book Reference: Best New Games by Dale LeFevre
{10:03}
Q. How do you like to play?
A. Dress up – but really only among people I know and feel safe around.
{11:28}
Q. What does our culture teach us about
A. There are certain places where it is socially acceptable for adults to play like kids.
This Interview’s Rec-lebrity Information
Kerri Schiller, Ph.D. candidate
Department of Recreation, Sport, and Tourism
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
krschil2@illinois.edu
Rec-
