By Brianna Lambert

Brianna Lambert is the author of Created to Play, a book about embracing rest and joy through hobbies. Brianna reveals the ways God blesses our hobbies and uses them to form us and pull us into worship. Keep reading to find out how to apply these ideas together as a family.

Why shared play is one of the best things you can do for your family this summer

On an early Saturday morning, my husband, three kids, and I piled into our van and headed to the remote-control flying field near our house. As the sun crawled up into the sky, we took turns flying our airplanes in circles and figure eights beneath the clouds above us. Our family has been flying together for a few months now. What started as my husband’s idea, quickly grew into an activity every member of the family enjoyed learning.

Unfortunately, participating in hobbies as a family can feel harder these days. Our individualized world has simultaneously pushed us into individualized hobbies. We take one kid to karate and another to swim practice. Mom makes it to her evening book club and dad might go out for a run alone every morning. While it’s not bad to participate singularly in forms of play, we will find a host of beauty when we reclaim the act of playing together as a family.

One of the first gifts playing together offers us is the chance to tangibly see what it means to be a family. Every family unit works towards the same goals—to grow in skills and character as God’s image bearers, and to nurture the relationships of sister, son, mother, father, daughter, or brother. Of course, all this is hidden beneath the varied tasks and responsibilities of our days. Our kids don’t fully understand the bonds they’re building or the ways these relationships are forming them for life. Playing together gives our kids the chance to see these realities more clearly. They experience what it means to work together and encourage their siblings beside them on a long and exhausting hike. They learn how it feels to cheer on their parents and to work together as a team. As we play together on a camping trip, during a game, or painting at the table, we gain the opportunity to tangibly experience our unity in purpose and the bond of love between us.

Not only does play give us a glimpse of our union as a family, but it gives us the opportunity to interact with each other on a different playing field. For a short period of time, kids don’t have only to be the kid. They get to be teammates, encouragers, and sometimes even the teachers. One of my favorite moments of our RC airplane hobby was when my nine-year-old sat next to me and carefully gave me tips and advice as I flew an airplane on the simulator. At that moment, he saw a mom who was still learning and making mistakes, and he got to help and teach me during the process.

As we head into this summer, let’s look for ways to start playing together as a family. Maybe we could schedule in a few more board game nights or a couple trips to the pool when everyone can go. Maybe we could be adventurous and try stepping into an entirely new sport, game, or artistic pursuit so that everyone can learn together. The available options are endless, and the benefits are numerous. We need only a heart ready to play together.

About the Author

Brianna Janelle Lambert

Brianna Janelle Lambert

Brianna Lambert is a writer and author from a rural community outside Indianapolis. Her articles and essays have appeared in Christianity Today, The Gospel Coalition, Common Good, Mere Orthodoxy, and elsewhere.Brianna also serves on staff at Gospel-Centered Discipleship and writes for the women’s ministry at her local church. You might find her backpacking, camping, waterskiing, or starting a brand-new hobby with her husband and three children.

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