Play is Vitally Important to All of Us!

Why should we be concerned about including play in our daily lives? Because it has been proven to be the best and most fundamental way to achieve a healthy brain and body for both children and adults! A life without play is a recipe for cognitive and physical problems.

According to the National Institute for Play:

·      Play unlocks the human potential in all stages of life!  It has been shown to help both children and adults develop and keep cognitive skills that lead to a happier life.

·      “The opposite of play is not work – it’s depression.” – Brian Sutton-Smith, PhD, researcher, and author of 50 books, including “The Ambiguity of Play.”

·      Play is the language of children – it’s the way they communicate and learn.  Children need various types of play to achieve a healthy brain!

Stuart Brown, M.D. is a medical doctor, psychiatrist, and clinical researcher who founded the National Institute for Play.  He discovered that a play deprived life can have devastating effects.  Play can act as a powerful deterrent, even an antidote to prevent violence.  Play helps children learn socialization and empathy for others. 

Types of Play and How They Affect the Brain

Body Play and Movement - Playing ball games, dancing, jumping, skipping, wrestling, etc.,     also called locomotive or physical play, fosters learning and lights up the brain.  It leads to innovation, muscle strength, flexibility, adaptability and resilience.

Object Play and Constructive Play – Manipulating objects with one’s hands, such as banging   on pans, skipping rocks, putting together jigsaw puzzles, using shape sorters, building model airplanes, and constructing things using blocks and other objects gives children a sense of accomplishment and empowers them with control of their environment.  Later on, when children reach their teenage years, constructive play such as fixing cars, helps the brain to develop more circuits and leads to greater fine motor skills and the ability for complex problem solving.  It has been shown to be just as important as obtaining advanced engineering degrees in making innovative problem solvers in the workplace.

Social Play – When children play games with rules and interact first with adults, then with other children, they learn how to take turns, how to share, and develop an empathy for others. By providing children with the opportunity to exert greater control over their situation, play with peers sets up the opportunities they need to learn planning, negotiation, and cooperation.   This is extremely important to forming the command center of the brain and leads to better communication skills and socialization.

Imaginative/Fantasy/Pretend/Dramatic Play/Storytelling – This is a way for children to try out roles, make sense of the world in which they live, and experiment with language and emotions.  This type of play helps children develop flexible thinking and creativity, and helps them to express themselves using new concepts and abstraction.  Pretend play has been linked to creativity, and creative problem solving in particular.  This type of play has been shown to help children achieve greater executive function, reading comprehension and the ability to communicate clearly through speech and writing.  For teens, drama or debate clubs continue  to help increase verbal and other cognitive skills.

Creative Play  - Working with art materials such as crayons, scissors, paint brushes, play dough and paint promote fine motor skills and eye-hand coordination.  This type of play also helps children learn about the physical properties of objects, and encourages children to think outside of the box, be original, and develop a sense of wonder.

Learning a Musical Instruments and Singing – Learning music helps children to develop rhythm, fine motor, listening and hearing skills.  Studies conducted by Northwestern University have shown that after two years, children who regularly attended music classes and actively participated in the class showed larger improvements in how the brain processed speech and had improved reading scores than their less-involved peers. 

Important Notes:

The American Academy of Pediatrics warns parents to limit screen time for children and teens.  It is important for kids to spend time on outdoor play, reading, hobbies, and using their imaginations in free play.  Studies have shown that excessive media use can lead to attention problems, school difficulties, sleep and eating disorders, and obesity. The AAP's guidelines encourage having a "Family Media Plan" and recommend:

• For children under 2: No screen time, except limited video chatting.

• Ages 2-5: Limit to 1 hour per day of high-quality, educational content.

• Ages 6+: No set hourly limit; focus on balancing with sleep (9-12 hours), physical activity (1+ hour), and healthy habits. Curfews like no screens 1 hour before bed are recommended.

  
  

The NAEYC (National Association for Education of Young Children) condemns violent television programming, movies, videotapes, computer games and other forms of media directed to children.  It is the responsibility of adults and of public policy to protect children from unnecessary and potentially harmful exposure to violence through the media. 

Other important information:

·      Kids do better academically and behave better in class when they have recess.*  Kids with recess show better academic performance, focus, and behavior; it also improves eyesight, nutrition, and reduces disruptive actions. A 2023-2024 review notes qualitative benefits like enhanced problem-solving, with calls to address disparities in recess access.

·      Physical play and doing crosswords puzzles and other thinking games help relieve        stress and delays mental decline in old age.

·      Play therapy is used by psychologists to provide a way for children to express their experiences and feelings, using such things as dolls, animal figures, and crayons and paper.

On a personal note, a friend once gave me a plaque that I cherish. It says:  "Remember to play everyday. We don't stop playing because we grow old, we grow old because we stop playing." - George Bernard Shaw

Another quote that I love is "Remember to play after every storm." - Mattie J. T. Stepanek from "Messenger, The Legacy of Mattie J.T. Stepanek and Heartsongs", Jeni Stepanek

Books of interest regarding play:

"Play - How it Shapes the Brain, Opens the Imagination, and Invigorates the Soul", Stuart Brown, M.D., with Christopher Vaugh founder of the National Institute for Play

"Dr. Toy's Smart Play - Smart Toys - How to Select and Use the Best Toys & Games", Stevanne Auerbach, PhD

For more information, please go to the following websites:

·      National Association for the Education of Young Children: www.naeyc.org

·      National Institute for Play: www.nifplay.org

·      American Academy of Pediatrics: www.aap.org

Footnotes:

*Brandon, C. & Atkins, T (2024) A Review of Literature Exploring the Impact of Recess on Academic, Behavioral, and Social Domains, University of Montana;

Children (Basel) 2025 June 30, "The Impact of Recess on Chronic Stress Levels in Elementary School" , PMC.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov