When play gets serious and science gets seriously fun

Fred Rogers once said: “Play is often talked about as if it were a relief from serious learning. But, for children, play is serious learning.”

But the case should be made that play is a serious part of adult wellness and development as well. Far beyond goofin’ around or just having a good time, play is a vital part of staying engaged, connected and living your best life.

But, seriously, what’s the big deal about play?

Play helps us learn how to better explore and understand the world. Through it, we are stronger creative thinkers and better friends and co-workers. It lowers stress levels, helps to keep our brains young and—most importantly—keeps us happy and engaged.

Play is a state of being, not an activity; it’s a basic need that our brains need, much like sleep or hydration. Deprived of it, we physically respond negatively and may find ourselves stilted or unhappy in our lives. Infused with it, our happiness increases, our memory improves, our relationships flourish – we basically turn into magical, levitating, joyful creatures (or something like that, right??).

Scientists find that engaged play increases overall happiness and is a predictor of future wellbeing. As a species, we are internally programmed to play throughout our lives—not just as children to learn practical behaviors, although the play we experience as children have a profound impact on our lives.

The absence of play can be truly disastrous. In his TED talk, Dr. Stuart Brown—psychiatrist, prominent clinical researcher and founder of the National Institute of Play—has studied the correlation between murderers and childhood play deprivation (say WHAT!!!). In less extreme circumstances, the opposite of play isn’t work – it’s depression and feelings of isolation.

The connective power of play is a fascinating one as the simple act of playing with others helps our respective right brains become attuned in a “joyful mergence,” per Dr. Brown. Playful activity lights up the cerebellum, putting impulses into our frontal lobe and helping contextual memory to develop – and that’s just the tip of the iceberg, as in-depth scientific research on play is only just now underway.

Need a little help getting your next playdate started?

Play is more about the state of being while you’re doing it, than the result you want to achieve — so, while some may crave the competition, play is less about winning and more about… well, the ‘doing’ of playing.

We can see other adults gravitating towards play with the increasing popularity of adult coloring books, the rise of maker spaces like TXRX Labs in Houston that teach how to build and create (how exciting to learn a new skill that brings you joy!) and the popularity of fun runs that combine physical activity and beer / colored powder / mud / etc.

Lately, I’ve taken to visiting our local board game cafe with my daughter to soak in the magic of their 600+ board games. The cafe is smart in that they have hired a team of game pros to take away the stress of finding the right game, learning the rules and setting things up—all serious barriers in OCD adults having a good time. Also, they have beer.

A few other suggestions to bring back play into your life:

• Change how you think about play – play isn’t necessarily a structured activity, it can be a silly conversation with a friend, a walk outside, scribbling a few lines or poetry or finding the lyrics to that song you just remembered from high school prom.
• Give yourself permission to play on the daily – add ‘play’ to you daily task list, in whatever form you feel like making it in that particular moment. Remember, play is not a luxury; it’s a vital part of your life.
• Take a “play history” – PsychCentral recommends you re-discover the kinds of play that resonated with you as a child to help you understand what might bring you the most joy as an adult. What toys, games or play situations made you happiest—and how can you re-create that now? Did you love team sports? Maybe it’s time to find a nearby recreational league. Did quality time with your grandmother learning how to knit make you happy? Stock up on needles and yarn at your local craft store and knit, purl, knit away (perhaps with a little refresher from YouTube or a crafty class). Bonus play points if you find a younger family member of your own to pass the skill along to, perhaps the best part was fun quality time with someone you loved.

Whether it’s hopscotch, testing a new cookie recipe or simply allowing yourself the space to explore something new and creative for just a few moments a day, the time and energy you invest in play will help you pass go, collect $200 and crown you king / queen of the hill.  Tag, you’re it!!