To Build Community

Being Intentional About Play

Leisure within communities looks different everywhere, from town to town, depending on the resources and spaces available. As recreational professionals and participants utilize various types of environments, it uncovers the endless opportunities that are not always the initial thought of what a space should be used for. With rural locations, come challenges regarding what opportunities can be provided for community members with the already existing assets. Knowing this information leads to the importance of why communities need to dive into intentional play instead of only highlighting the traditional activities that spaces.

As communities are exposed to more recreational opportunities, they have the ability to be intentional about what areas of recreation they focus on providing for the participants. To build a supportive community, those in charge need to be engaging in the proper activities that connect to what their community hopes to represent. It is often that the adults within an environment are the ones who dictate the type of connection a community has. Through research it has been revealed that play can result in strengthening bonds and fostering connection. "When people play together, it creates a sense of connection and closeness. Bonds are strengthened naturally through shared activities like playing games or engaging in sports" (Modi, 2024). These bonds can be introduced and excel in a faster past than traditional community bonds when the play that is occurring has a purpose or intention.

When recreation programmers take the extra time to be intentional about play with the goal of relationship building, the overall impact can last a lifetime. No matter the participants' age or the play occurring, it is the internal and external factors that the participants walk away with. Relationship building through intentional play connects to focusing on creating "environments filled with safety and belonging, where everyone has an opportunity to play," working on "developmental relationships by encouraging adults to play alongside children," and providing "rich learning experiences that intentionally focus on critical knowledge, skills, mindsets, and habits" (Play Contributes to Safe and Healthy Communities, 2022). These three factors, if incorporated into the community play space, help to engage all participants in a way that directs them toward specific goals.

Outcomes of Intergenerational Play

From the elders to the youth, everyone has a role to play in their community. Using play and inclusive programming to foster meaningful connections between everyone in a community is the recipe for success.

“Among the many positive outcomes, researchers found that children in preschool partnered with older adult volunteers show better socio-emotional outcomes (e.g., empathy and acceptance); elementary school children partnered with older adults show increased learning, reading comprehension, and improvement in writing; and older adults report less social isolation and a sense of connectedness and community when engaged with children and youth.” (Helen Shwe Hadani et al., 2022).

Although the targeted outcomes do not specifically cover rural spaces while planning out future intergenerational play for rural communities. Programmers have the unique opportunity to engage two age demographics that can increase social capital and community unity.

Barriers to Intergenerational Play in Rural Communities

What is Intergenerational Play and Why is it Important?

"Intergenerational practice aims to bring people together in purposeful, mutually beneficial activities which promote greater understanding and respect between generations and contributes to building more cohesive communities. Intergenerational practice is inclusive, building on the positive resources that the young and old have to offer each other and those around them (Beth Johnson Foundation, 2021)."

An increasing amount of young adults are leaving rural communities and in turn, creating a barrier to intergenerational play opportunities within communities. This raises the questions, why are young people leaving rural communities? How do rural communities retain these young individuals?

A report from the UK measured the percentage of younger populations living in larger cities compared to older generations living in rural areas. The report by the Intergenerational Foundation (2016), found that "in the 25 biggest cities within the UK only 5% of people aged over 65 live in the same neighbourhood as someone under the age of 18 (Kingman, 2016). According to Cohen & Greaney (2023), trends indicate that populations in rural United States are more than urban communities.

In the United States, similar figures can be denoted, a study by Winkler et al. (2013) found that rural America had the largest net loss of young adults, aged 20-29, with youth trending in the same direction pictured below. Developing a rural community to fit the needs and aspirations of the youth and young adults and combat the rapidly aging rural landscape. Providing intergenerational play programs can strengthen the bond between generations and foster a sense of return

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