Your reflections resonate deeply with me, especially in considering the epidemic of mass suicide and depression in South Korea. During my travels in South Korea and other Asian countries, I was struck by the intense focus on academic achievement and the limited space given to play and creativity. It felt heartbreaking to see how this pressure could suppress opportunities for joy and connection—basic needs that we often overlook but are so essential for mental health and overall well-being.
I’ve often wondered if this lack of unstructured play, both for children and adults, contributes to the widespread struggles with mental health. To me, it seems tragic that both Western and Far East Asian societies have shifted so much toward valuing academics and productivity while ignoring ancestral knowledge about the importance of play, creativity, and moments of flow.
Your idea of creating intergenerational play spaces rooted in cultural storytelling and history really struck a chord with me. I love the idea of these spaces not only as places for fun but as sanctuaries where people can reconnect with themselves, with others, and with their cultural heritage. It makes me hopeful to think that something as simple as designing spaces for joyful interaction could be a step toward healing and rebalancing these societal pressures.
Yes, I am also deeply concerned about the negative affects on mental health by the lack of play during childhood. I am wondering how more play could be made accessible to children here, while at the same time not diminishing this playfulness in young adults... that play is valued throughout life - and is not seen as a distraction but as an essential component of being human together with others.
and I am really interested in seeing where the idea of an intergenerational play-space rooted cultural heritage can go.
I have been reading a lot of the signs at the temples and palaces here and they mention both tangible and intangible cultural heritage - and I wonder if play should be considered part of our intangible cultural heritage - traditional games etc played by children and adults throughout the ages - sometimes i think these are disappearing.
Here I have noticed a lot of sculptures and murals featuring children's play - but not the actual spaces for this play.
Born and raised in South Korea, I had a lot of thoughts reading this.
Especially, reading this part, "Once you have done all your studies, you are welcome to play." almost brought me sadness, as I was one of those suppressed kids who did not know what to do with hormones whirring yet tied to the chair 15 hours a day. The agony brought me a lot of so-called "success," but honestly, I don't know if it was worthwhile, as I can never go back to being a child while you can start studying any time you want (maybe this could be my privilege -- Idk). I think that long-term suppression (or lack of natural release) often brings a lot of problems in adulthood among Koreans, again, my hypothesis.
I wonder, have you been to a "Kids' Cafe" in Korea? I wonder what you think about that too :)
Also, I did not know you were located in Korea! It is a wonderful place packed with a long history, resilience, and traditional and unique culture. Hope you are enjoying your time there!
Yes, this is the confusion - because play is so vital, especially in childhood, that it seems counterproductive to suppress it at this time. Adult play is so incredibly visible everywhere, while children's play more invisible and you have to go looking for it...
I LOVE the fact that adults are more playful, at least young adults... the only other time I have noticed this so strongly was when I worked with a group of educators from occupied Palestine - many of the women having never truly played themselves as children. I was there training the teachers how play can be a natural part of their teaching (play-responsive) - so instead of showing them how to make lessons playful, I got them playing so we could analyse what was happening during the play and what parts of the curriculum was actually occurring without them directing. The sheer joy of their play was wonderful, the same smiles, giggles and open mouths of wonder - what they should have been able to experience as children.
We truly need to re-evaluate what success is... because the academic stress of being best means we are constantly being pitched against each other rather than valuing all our different attributes. And if we can do that then maybe there IS more time for play during childhood.
I also notice that there are various people sharing films of children from various different East Asian countries - mostly Chinese - where they are doing woodwork and cooking meals at preschool age - stating this as a great thing because they are being trusted, but forgetting that in fact the children have been very controlled to be able to achieve this in the first place...
Original Learning seeks to be somewhere in the middle - autonomy in play AND learning - with play-responsive teaching - where they is access to play and to be able to trust children to cook etc at the appropriate time for the children. We don't have to be in a hurry to be able to do everything as soon as possible after all.
I am visiting South Korea as my daughter is studying here at the moment... I will be leaving in a few days. I have so enjoyed being here.
I imagine it gave quite a different feel in the daylight..
and of course this is entirely my perspective through my observations of children and play spaces in both urban and rural spaces across the world... and hopefully it continues to evolve...
Your reflections resonate deeply with me, especially in considering the epidemic of mass suicide and depression in South Korea. During my travels in South Korea and other Asian countries, I was struck by the intense focus on academic achievement and the limited space given to play and creativity. It felt heartbreaking to see how this pressure could suppress opportunities for joy and connection—basic needs that we often overlook but are so essential for mental health and overall well-being.
I’ve often wondered if this lack of unstructured play, both for children and adults, contributes to the widespread struggles with mental health. To me, it seems tragic that both Western and Far East Asian societies have shifted so much toward valuing academics and productivity while ignoring ancestral knowledge about the importance of play, creativity, and moments of flow.
Your idea of creating intergenerational play spaces rooted in cultural storytelling and history really struck a chord with me. I love the idea of these spaces not only as places for fun but as sanctuaries where people can reconnect with themselves, with others, and with their cultural heritage. It makes me hopeful to think that something as simple as designing spaces for joyful interaction could be a step toward healing and rebalancing these societal pressures.
Yes, I am also deeply concerned about the negative affects on mental health by the lack of play during childhood. I am wondering how more play could be made accessible to children here, while at the same time not diminishing this playfulness in young adults... that play is valued throughout life - and is not seen as a distraction but as an essential component of being human together with others.
and I am really interested in seeing where the idea of an intergenerational play-space rooted cultural heritage can go.
I have been reading a lot of the signs at the temples and palaces here and they mention both tangible and intangible cultural heritage - and I wonder if play should be considered part of our intangible cultural heritage - traditional games etc played by children and adults throughout the ages - sometimes i think these are disappearing.
Here I have noticed a lot of sculptures and murals featuring children's play - but not the actual spaces for this play.
Born and raised in South Korea, I had a lot of thoughts reading this.
Especially, reading this part, "Once you have done all your studies, you are welcome to play." almost brought me sadness, as I was one of those suppressed kids who did not know what to do with hormones whirring yet tied to the chair 15 hours a day. The agony brought me a lot of so-called "success," but honestly, I don't know if it was worthwhile, as I can never go back to being a child while you can start studying any time you want (maybe this could be my privilege -- Idk). I think that long-term suppression (or lack of natural release) often brings a lot of problems in adulthood among Koreans, again, my hypothesis.
I wonder, have you been to a "Kids' Cafe" in Korea? I wonder what you think about that too :)
Also, I did not know you were located in Korea! It is a wonderful place packed with a long history, resilience, and traditional and unique culture. Hope you are enjoying your time there!
Yes, this is the confusion - because play is so vital, especially in childhood, that it seems counterproductive to suppress it at this time. Adult play is so incredibly visible everywhere, while children's play more invisible and you have to go looking for it...
I LOVE the fact that adults are more playful, at least young adults... the only other time I have noticed this so strongly was when I worked with a group of educators from occupied Palestine - many of the women having never truly played themselves as children. I was there training the teachers how play can be a natural part of their teaching (play-responsive) - so instead of showing them how to make lessons playful, I got them playing so we could analyse what was happening during the play and what parts of the curriculum was actually occurring without them directing. The sheer joy of their play was wonderful, the same smiles, giggles and open mouths of wonder - what they should have been able to experience as children.
We truly need to re-evaluate what success is... because the academic stress of being best means we are constantly being pitched against each other rather than valuing all our different attributes. And if we can do that then maybe there IS more time for play during childhood.
I also notice that there are various people sharing films of children from various different East Asian countries - mostly Chinese - where they are doing woodwork and cooking meals at preschool age - stating this as a great thing because they are being trusted, but forgetting that in fact the children have been very controlled to be able to achieve this in the first place...
Original Learning seeks to be somewhere in the middle - autonomy in play AND learning - with play-responsive teaching - where they is access to play and to be able to trust children to cook etc at the appropriate time for the children. We don't have to be in a hurry to be able to do everything as soon as possible after all.
I am visiting South Korea as my daughter is studying here at the moment... I will be leaving in a few days. I have so enjoyed being here.
I should have visited this playground when I was in Växjö last summer. Thank you for sharing your so singular point of vue.
I imagine it gave quite a different feel in the daylight..
and of course this is entirely my perspective through my observations of children and play spaces in both urban and rural spaces across the world... and hopefully it continues to evolve...