‘It’s so important’: Pat Cummins on what you must do with your kids
Australian cricket captain Pat Cummins has opened up about life as a father of two, and stressed the importance of this one key activity to help children to thrive and develop.
Australian cricket captain Pat Cummins has opened up about life beyond the pitch, sharing how fatherhood has reshaped his understanding of play.
With his four-year-old son Albie more interested in skiing, dancing and throwing balls to the dog than picking up a cricket bat, the sports star is in no rush to steer his children toward the game that made him famous.
“Albie’s a bit of a daredevil,” says the usually private Cummins.
“Anything outside he’s pretty happy to do. I love seeing what games he comes up with. He tried a cricket bat and didn’t really take it up. He’s tried golf clubs and hasn’t really taken that up. So we’ll see. He likes dancing, so maybe dancing with a bit of throwing – a new sport, who knows.”
The injured skipper, who is still hoping to be fit for the second Ashes Test, having been ruled out of the Perth game later this month due to a lower back injury, spoke about his children ahead of World Children’s Day on November 20 in his role as a UNICEF Australia’s Ambassador.
Reflecting on his own childhood – cricket with his brothers (Tim and Matt), netball with his sisters (Laura and Kara) – the ambassador for the world’s largest children’s charity is keen to pass on the spirit of play, not the pressure to perform.
And with baby daughter Edi now in the mix, he’s even more passionate about the power of play to spark learning and connection.
“I can’t wait to see what games they come up with together. I remember a lot of my childhood playing cricket with my brothers in the back yard, but also when they weren’t home, I’d be playing netball with my sisters as well,’’ Cummins says. “So, yeah, I can’t wait to see what they play together.”
Ahead of UNICEF’s World Children’s Day he says, “Every child deserves a moment to play. It’s how we discover, grow and connect with the world and each other.”
By Pat Cummins
Things I haven’t thought about for 20 to 25 years are all coming back to me since becoming a parent – and I feel like I’m getting to relive what I did in my childhood.
I’m one of five children, so growing up we were in the back yard every afternoon after school.
In summer it was cricket or tennis or swimming. In winter it was kicking a footy around or a soccer ball or riding our bikes.
I had a lot of freedoms during those years and looking back it was a time where I experienced the pure joy of just being a child.
I think it’s so important for kids to have space each day where they can be themselves, follow different curiosities, foster their creativity, run around and connect with others their own age – which is exactly what play makes possible.
Play teaches so many lessons. It teaches you how to problem solve, it can teach you resilience in situations like when you lose in a game, but also, when there’s so many emotions and energy built up, play is a way to let it all out and just be free.
Cricket, skiing and throwing balls
Now with my own two children, I’m rediscovering play as a parent and it’s been great fun.
Albie’s only four, so he likes throwing balls, especially to the dog – he can do that all day.
He’s tried a cricket bat and golf clubs, and like many four-year-olds moved on to other things now. He can be a bit of a daredevil, so anything outside he’s happy to do. He picked up skiing pretty quickly this winter and didn’t mind falling over, he would get straight back up and give it another go, which really impressed me.
And just running in and out of the waves at the beach, over and over again, for hours.
Play can be anything – and sometimes it’s making games out of nothing. He loves building things, and jigsaw puzzles, and a favourite thing is baking cakes or cookies.
He also likes dancing – so for him, maybe dancing with a bit of throwing could be a new sport.
With Edi, she’s moving around and playing with different toys, so we’re watching her discovering the world and learning something new every day.
It’s been incredible to see the enjoyment, excitement and discovery, but also the connection between them. Albie and Edi are connecting through playing together, and I can already sense it’s really strong and their bond as siblings.
Albie uses Edi as his road for his cars, which we’re working on, but also just lots of peekaboo. He’s obsessed, and he’s basically been obsessed since she was born. It’s beautiful to watch.
I can’t wait to watch what games they come up with and even what sports they might enjoy together.
Brothers and sisters
I remember a lot of my childhood playing cricket with my brothers in the back yard – and yes it was all competitive, there were no age-gap handicaps.
Even though my brother is adamant he’s never lost a game of back yard cricket to me, I think I held my weight from early on.
But when my brothers weren’t home, I’d be playing netball with my sisters instead, so I’m curious to see how Albie and Edi will create their own kind of fun as they grow up.
So, for this World Children’s Day, I want children and families around the country to know that play isn’t just fun, it’s fundamental to a child’s development.
Play is how you learn new things, it’s how you connect with other people, it’s how you get rid of energy and express emotion, and every child deserves a moment of play.
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Originally published as ‘It’s so important’: Pat Cummins on what you must do with your kids
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