The delightful Instagram account @recess_therapy launched on June 9, 2021. In the video that started it all, host and account creator Julian Shapiro-Barnum interviews little kids about outer space and aliens. Amassing just under 400,000 views, the video gave rise to a wildly popular series of conversations Shapiro-Barnum conducts with children, who provide funny yet thoughtful answers to life’s big questions.
In the most adorable way possible, Recess Therapy provides a sense of comfort and nostalgia to its watchers through comedy. Moreover, the account offers uncomplicated, free advice from children responding to sometimes complex questions. Recess Therapy breaks up the monotony of everyday Instagram content while supplying a wide range of subject matter that adapts to the demands of today’s meme culture.
Every kid who Shapiro-Barnum interviews has an original interpretation of his questions. Based on their answers, Shapiro-Barnum leads them down paths that evoke cute and contemplative responses.
In his second video, posted on June 9, 2021, Shapiro-Barnum asks a girl, “What would you say the hardest part about being ten is?” She delivers a basic but direct answer, “My feelings are starting to get stronger.” Digging deeper, Shapiro-Barnum finds out she’s “feeling angry all of a sudden.” When questioned about what makes her angry, viewers receive the widely-held consensus that “Life’s frustrating.”
It seems comical that such a young kid could be so triggered by life. Yet, the sentiment is something that adults who watch the video can find relatable. Coming from a 10-year-old, the statement seems to speak to bigger issues: What’s so wrong with the world that a kid is so quick to anger? Why is her animosity the first thing that comes to mind? Is her willingness to share her feelings so openly a sign of emotional progress in the nation?
Such larger ideas lead the viewer to sympathize with the kids featured in the video series. Followers recognize the more adult takeaways the kids have to offer and, as a result, likely feel understood or seen. In a lot of cases, the adults’ emotions or perspectives are reflected in the kids’ words. In this way, it feels as though every unintentionally-witty comment from a child has the ability to bring out the inner child in every adult.
In a video posted on July 24, 2021, Shapiro-Barnum investigates kids’ thoughts on adults, entering a potentially divisive territory. He asks, “What’s something that you wish adults could do better?” One girl affirms that “if they [felt] how kids [feel], then they would understand how much pressure they put on kids.” He follows up, “Do you feel like it’s hard to be a kid?” to which she responds with a resounding “Yes!”
A parent, for example, may take offense to the theory presented by the little girl. But anyone who approaches the video with a light heart, as most viewers are expected to do, takes the girl’s message to heart. Parents often do, though maybe unintentionally, apply pressure to their kids’ lives, whether in the form of academics, friendships or extracurricular activities. If a parent were to watch the video, it might encourage them to rethink their expectations for their kids.
Recess Therapy’s content struck a chord once again on Jan. 7, 2022. The boy interviewed talked about the advice he’d give adults. “If you’re always at work, and you never have time to play with your friends, get outside and go explore — under the sea, in the sky, on Earth.”
It’s almost expected that a kid’s advice would be to get outside and “play” more. However, he might have hit the nail on its head. According to one study, over 60% of adults report spending five or fewer hours outside in nature each week.
With proven health benefits, some as simple as vitamin D and fresh air, spending time outside boosts mental and physical health. Adults, namely the ones stuck behind computers and desks for eight hours a day, might benefit from taking this advice to heart. After all, don’t all adults long for the days when they could solve their problems by playing outside with friends? The boy’s words serve as a gentle reminder to adults stuck indoors, especially when considering the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Recess Therapy’s most famous video, posted on Aug. 4, 2022, stays pinned at the top of its page. The video was a viral interview with a boy who professed his love for corn. This video was one of the more humorous ones; in fact, it even became a meme and was later turned into the “It’s Corn” song that swept social media by storm.
Though a good laugh, the video that’s seemingly all about corn also has something to teach its viewers: Enjoy the small things. Adults find it so hilarious that a kid could be so obsessed with something as basic as corn. But his passion for the starch might inspire adults to look within and reflect on the last time they were so abundantly joyful about something so innocent. It also serves as a reminder to be thankful for each and every thing, even if the thing in question is something as simple as corn.
With almost 200 videos since its inauguration, Recess Therapy continues to offer mindful guidance in the form of compassionate comedy. Every video, when analyzed with purpose, clearly conveys multiple messages. Childhood frustrations, getting into nature or even finding appreciation for the little things cover only a percentage of the inventive conversations spurred by Shapiro-Barnum’s questions. Though the therapy component is carried out through and for the children, viewers of all ages can find joy in simply watching Recess Therapy’s videos. No matter the video, there is sure to be a lesson or two for every adult viewer to glean.
