Book Title: Play to Live: Life Skills and Joy Through the Natural Talent to Play by Brian VanDongen
Category: Self help / Inner Child; creativity, 119 pages
Genre: Adult Non-Fiction (18+)
Publisher: BVDPlays
Release date: April 30, 2019

Synopsis

Play To Live: Life Skills and Joy Through The Natural Talent To Play by author Brian VanDongen takes you back to your childhood to remind you about what being a child is all about. Playing! We all have those fond childhood memories of growing up playing with our friends in social settings. Developing social skills and learning how to handle friendships and relationships.

What we didn’t realize at the time was that those skills we learned for the building blocks which lay the foundation for the rest of our lives. What are our children learning right now? How are they playing now and what part are we playing in how our children interact with the world around them.

For many children, their idea of play and playing now consists of talking to friends online and playing with electronic devices, staying safe indoors, and not venturing further than their own small safe world which we have created.

Inside Play To Live you’ll discover:

Understanding what it means to play.
Where play has gone and what has changed?
How playing inside the box promotes the simplicity of play.
Why risky play is not the same as dangerous play. Are we too overprotective?
That climbing up the slide is just as important as sliding down.
Getting muddy outside and rediscovering nature is imperative.
That play is serious business and so much more.

Inside Play To Live: Life Skills and Joy Through The Natural Talent To Play you’ll read about case studies and reports followed by tips, tricks, and information to help you. If you would like to rediscover what it means to play, then grab a copy of Play To Live right now!

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Interview

Today we welcome Brian to StoreyBook Reviews and ask the hard questions…ok, maybe not really hard questions.  I never thought about play and Brian has me rethinking how I “play” in my life.

There are many books about play. What makes yours different?

It’s true, there are many great books about play. My book is based on stories, real-world stories of real-world successful play programs and initiatives. From there, I explain how and why these different stories are of different types of play, and then at the end of each chapter, give tips on how to implement that type of play into your own life within an easy to understand, “put into action right away” format.

How did you get involved in the “play movement?”

I’ve been involved with recreation basically my whole life. I started working for my town’s recreation department when I was 14, and now I am an assistant director of recreation for a large municipality with a very active department. However, it wasn’t until recently when I attended a play conference about three years ago that the movement for play “clicked” in my mind. That’s when I said to myself, “I get it, these are my people. I need to spread the word about free play and the need to live playfully.”

What play opportunities do you provide in your role as a recreation professional?

Our recreation department is very active. We offer a lot of programs than just the typical sports. While we do have soccer, softball, flag football, and lacrosse for children, we offer art classes for both children and adults, theater camps, science camps, and cartooning. During our recreation camp, there’s always time for free play every day. We also always try to improve the amenities in our parks to make them welcoming and make people want to visit and play.

Seems like you’re very busy! How do you relax and decompress?

Yes, the recreation world doesn’t stop! I like to travel and explore. It’s funny though, I never really stop thinking about play. I just went on a trip to Hilton Head Island and noticed how seriously they take play and recreation. I always try to scout out a fun playground or play spot unique to the area I am visiting. It’s interesting to see how people value play around the country and around the world.

You wrote a book, but do you have a favorite book?

Well, I am a bit partial to mine! But seriously. In the fiction world, I really like Catcher in the Rye. In the non-fiction world, the book A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson. It’s about Bill and his friend’s journey on the Appalachian Trail as they prepare for and attempt a thru-hike. There are some funny anecdotes and a lot of history about the trail, which is interesting.

About the Author

Brian is a life-long “parks and rec kid.” Now, he is a parks and recreation professional.

Brian has created, designed, and implemented transformational recreational programming for thousands of residents. ​ Through his work as a park and recreation professional, Brian helps people play and find their natural talent to play.

He believes everyone has that talent, but it is sometimes hard to find, or even suppressed in today’s society. ​ Fortunately, play at its most basic level is easy, fun, healthy, and desirable. That playful talent just needs to be unleashed.

Brian has helped thousands of people find their natural talent to play and become happier and healthier people through the power of play.

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Giveaway

Win a signed copy of Play to Live: Life Skills and Joy Through the Natural Talent to Play (1 winner / open to USA only)

(ends July 13, 2019)

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