It might be a parent dancing in the kitchen with their toddler. A grandparent chasing bubbles in the yard. Or a group of kids and grownups crouched on the sidewalk, taking turns in a high-stakes game of giant Jenga. But play doesn’t always involve children. It can look like reading a novel just for the fun of it, picking up a forgotten hobby, or laughing your way through a board game with friends. Wherever it shows up, these moments remind us: play isn’t just for children. It belongs to all of us.
Kelsee Philpot, owner of Hattie’s Toyland, sees it every day. What began as a dream to build a neighborhood toy store in honor of her daughter Hattie has grown into a community-wide invitation to reconnect with joy.
“Play connects people,” she says simply. “If it gets a mom to laugh with her child, or a dad to throw a ball, I’ve done my job.”
At Hattie’s, nestled in Trussville’s Entertainment District, the displays brim with colorful toys, some that evoke a strong sense of nostalgia. There’s a classic yo-yo, vintage Fisher Price toys stamped with the original logo, and Care Bears that look just like the ones pulled from childhood toy chests decades ago. “I’ve seen grown men walk in and say, ‘I had this when I was a kid,’” Kelsee says. “You see the spark. They want to pass it on. We knew kids would come into the store and be happy. What surprised us is that adults come in and are happy. It takes them back to being a kid themselves.”
The real magic, though, is in what happens next — when a parent or grandparent doesn’t just buy the toy, but rediscovers the joy of play for its own sake. “A lot of parents don’t know how to play,” Kelsee observes. “They had to grow up too fast. Sometimes they buy a toy hoping it will entertain their child, but they’re not sure how to join in.” That’s where she and her team come in, offering not just products, but guidance: “Here’s how this works. Here’s a game you can play together.”
The results, Kelsee says, are often more moving than anyone expects. She shares the story of a friend whose middle schooler had drifted toward screens. She bought him a tail ball — a simple toy with a soft tail you can throw and catch — and suddenly, her son was asking to play outside every day. “She told me, ‘I could cry that my seventh grader is asking his mom to come outside and play,’” Kelsee recalls. “And honestly, I could cry too.”
That kind of moment is what drives the mission at Hattie’s. “We’re learning how important play is in development,” Kelsee says, “and now our team is getting to pass that on — one conversation at a time.”
Play doesn’t require grand gestures or perfect weather. It’s about small, joyful moments. Whether it’s singing at the top of your lungs in the car, a quick game in the driveway, or a loop around the neighborhood, play gently opens doors to connection. “I feel like, for such a time as this, we were supposed to put a toy store in our community,” Kelsee says. “I didn’t know how much I’d be learning about the art of play — or how much it would mean to share it.”
An Invitation to Play
Here’s a collection of playful ideas: small ways to bring fun into everyday life, whether you’re five or ninety-five.
Go for a loop.
Every night after dinner, Kelsee’s two-year-old grabs her stroller and walks the neighborhood loop with the family. “It’s amazing how peaceful it is to end your day that way,” Kelsee says. “Even the quietest person will start to open up.” Bonus: walking has a calming effect on the brain, making it the perfect time for heartfelt conversations.
Keep art supplies out in the open.
During a week stuck at home with the flu, Kelsee’s middle school aged daughter filled an entire sketchbook and crafted a bouquet out of pipe cleaners. “Her brain just started firing,” Kelsee says. “She had the space to create.” Leaving paper, crayons, or paints within reach invites spontaneous creativity.
Create your own dance party code word.
One family Kelsee knows chose “Mariah” as their cue. Whenever the mood needs lifting, someone calls it out, and on comes Mariah Carey’s Emotions. “Even the dad and brother dance now,” she laughs. “You can’t stay mad if you’re dancing.”
Play a game together.
Keep it simple and joyful. Kelsee recommends favorites like Chunky Monkey Business and Go Nuts, Chipmunks! (a fast-paced board game even two-year-olds can enjoy). Set a 30-minute timer, silence the phones, and let laughter take over.
Ask playful questions.
Kelsee’s team keeps a jar of popsicle sticks, each with a conversation starter: What’s your favorite scent? If you had a magic wand, what would you do? “Simple questions lead to the best conversations,” she says. Try it at the dinner table, on a walk, or even on a phone call with a grandchild.
Swap screens for stories.
Whether it's a child listening to a bedtime tale or an adult finally picking up a novel they’ve been curious about, story has the power to calm, connect, and transport. For road trips or quiet evenings, Kelsee recommends the screen-free Toniebox for families — it plays songs, audiobooks, and bedtime stories, including charming exclusives like Doggyland and The Chronicles of Narnia. Grandparents can even record their own stories or prayers using “Creative Tonies,” which kids can play on demand. Sometimes the most playful thing an adult can do is read something purely for pleasure — not for work, not for self-improvement, but simply because they want to. Story invites us to pause, imagine, and return to a part of ourselves that too often gets buried under obligation.
Because at the end of the day, play isn’t about perfection or productivity. It’s about connection. And in the pace of our modern lives, where screens flicker endlessly and schedules overflow, creating space for play is one of the most meaningful gifts we can give — to our children, our families, and ourselves.
As Kelsee says, “If we can provide resources that bring a family together, that’s what it’s all about.”
SIDEBAR
Just for Fun
We asked locals: What’s one thing you do just for the joy of it?
“Singing like a pop star around the house with my daughter. I am a horrible singer, but it's so fun to just belt it out!” — Avani Patel
“Last year, I joined a Men's (Over 35) baseball team, and I am just as nervous at bat as my 9-year-old.” — Greg Mihaly
“I go skateboarding with my nephew at the City Walk skate park. He’s much better than I am and he gets embarrassed by me, but we have fun!” — Mary Meadows Livingston
“I am learning to play the lap steel guitar.” —Kelly Burke
“A few years ago I bought a turntable and speaker system and began collecting vinyl records. I started with replacing the ones I had as a child and those that my parents wouldn’t let me have.” — Garland Stansell
“Family, golf, and taking walks with our dog Maggie.” — John Willard
“I’m learning calligraphy — it’s calming, creative, and makes me smile every time I pick up the pen.” — Elizabeth Adams
Embracing Neurodivergent Play
To further explore the many forms play can take, we invited Kathleen Ramsey, Ph.D., of Upward Behavioral Health to share insight on neurodivergent play.
Play is one of the building blocks of learning and communicating for young children. While adults may consider themselves to have “grown out of” playing, parents often channel their inner child and connect with their own children through play activities. When you think of play, you may automatically start picturing imaginative, back-and-forth games, such as creating stories with dolls or action figures, role playing “school” or “doctor,” or engaging in make-believe where something simple like a cardboard box is a spaceship. These forms of play are common in neurotypical children, where play schemes become more complex, creative, and reciprocal as children grow older. Neurodivergent children (e.g., those who have neurodevelopmental differences, such as autism, ADHD and learning disabilities) sometimes follow a similar trajectory, and sometimes they march to the beat of their own drum!
Historically, many neurodivergent children (especially autistic kids) are identified as having “deficits” in their play skills, particularly when they engage in play that is repetitive (e.g., lining up or organizing toys), non-functional (e.g., not using objects as intended), or limited in imagination. Through this lens, differences in play are thought of as a problem to be fixed, and children must be taught how to play “appropriately” so they can fit in with their neurotypical peers. In contrast, we know that play is intrinsic to all children; it just may look different in neurodivergent children than how you might expect based on society’s expectations of them. There is no right or wrong way to play – All play is valid.
For parents whose neurotypes are different than their child’s, engaging in neurodivergent play may feel a bit less natural or familiar to them. You may have to adjust your ideas of what play is, expanding your definition to include ways of interacting with the world in a manner that you may not have even considered! Wondering how to embrace neurodivergent play? Here are some ideas:
· Engaging in parallel play (e.g., playing near your child while doing different things), sharing the experience of play with your child without pressuring them to play in a cooperative fashion
· Allowing your child to engage in solitary play, reducing social demands
· Mirroring your child’s play, which may include joining in on safe self-stimulatory behaviors (e.g., spinning, jumping)
· Incorporating sensory elements into play
· Following your child’s lead in play schemes and routines, even if you don’t immediately understand where it is going
· Supporting your child’s passionate interests
· Respecting and (if they are open to it) contributing to your child’s collecting, sorting, organizing, and categorizing
Resource:
A Beginner's Guide to Self-Directed Neurodivergent Play by Kerry Murphy