Let's play, just for fun!

have been writing this column for almost two years now. The focus has been on traditional games, but today's article is about something more basic and fundamental—the traditional practice of play.

- Vinita Siddhartha

It's the summer holidays. I remember looking forward to them the entire year. It's not that I did not enjoy school, I did. But summer holidays meant long, lazy days to read, play, and have fun without a plan or purpose. While I was growing up, there were no summer classes, so my days were free and unfettered.

Things have changed. With both parents working and often having no responsible adult at home, summer classes become a good way to keep children occupied and safe rather than being left alone. Do they have fun? Yes. Do they meet new friends and learn a lot? Yes.

But I do wonder what they lose. When did the focus of holidays change to learning new skills rather than long days of unstructured play? While this trend is alarming enough, I see another trend when I interact with people—a focus on learning through play. If a game can teach something quantifiable and specific, it is deemed appropriate. If you cannot outline the specific learning, it is deemed a waste of time.