A fascinating book about the serious business of play is “The Red Rubber Ball at Work”. It’s all about play at work. Kevin Carroll reminds us of our childhood connections to play and of how often we have forgotten  how to play and the fun of it all.

Using a creative mix of the book itself, internet links and video you are encouraged to discover your own game. Scoring in business is like play as  David Allen points out in his forthcoming book: its about “winning at the game of work and the business of life”.

In this book we meet many successful people who have not forgotten how to play at work. I particularly enjoyed reading the different perspectives of play taken from the various angles in people’s lives. Memories of childhood and how these children’s games and play went on to form the successes in adult life. Success in every sense, part and walk of life.

Challenge yourself! And challenge your children to learn to play (with) music and share a lifetime of ways “to tap into imagination, be more inventive and discover new things” as Kevin Carroll discovered when he took up playing the Cello again.

At whatever age music and singing is a very creative way of learning. Like a recent school concert that my twins gave of Mozarts Requiem. Rehersals started several weeks ago. These were disciplined, repetitive and structured, teaching the children to listen to their own voice and that of the whole choir.

I was taken by the enthusiasm with which this singing project was undertaken. Shown in little comments, like Thomas coming home from school one afternoon “I want to learn Latin!” “Why?” “So I can understand what I am singing!”

Singing in the adult choir, I was able to experience how everything came together with orchestra, choir and finally the concert. Mozart’s Requiem is a powerfully moving piece many will remember from the Film Amadeus. Days later the twins are still singing parts of the Requiem.

The Red Rubber Ball at Work needs to be understood from a child’s perspective. And remembering how I loved to play as a child, I share Kevin’s belief that play is essential to growth and development of healthy children.

At a young age, more important than learning to read or write, is learning to play. Many educators (and researchers) of young children realize the need for more playtime in spite of some worrying trends by national Governments.

Play is many things at work and Kevin shares interviews with authors such as Seth Godin, Malcolm Gladwell and Paulo Coehlo:

• Play is innovation
• Play is results
• Play is teamwork
• Play is leadership
• Play is curiosity

And now for something completely different! Monty Python - Office Sketch.

Please use the comments to share with us what your game is? Where is your ball? Which colour is yours?

Tags: GTD_for_Kids, Getting Things Done, Nathaniel Stott, Recommended Reading, Reviews, inspiration //