This week is National Play Day. Celebrated on 7th August 2024, this day highlights the importance of play on behaviour, development, creativity and culture. As you might expect, the focus is predominantly on children, with this year’s theme being the culture of childhood. Every child plays – it is a universal feature across different cultures and generations that allows for expression, exploration and discovery.
Play is vital for children’s health, creativity and wellbeing. Through play, children can build relationships with their peers through sharing, negotiation and cooperation, helping to develop and nurture social skills that will benefit them throughout life. Play also provides children with the opportunity to discover the world around them, learning about the way things work while simultaneously improving their coordination, fine motor skills and critical thinking abilities. Children can also learn to recognise and develop their creativity, using it to express themselves in a safe and accepting environment. This creativity includes the creation of games, songs and stories that are passed on to different groups and generations, thus contributing to the overall culture and cohesion of a given population.
But isn’t play just for children? And what does it have to do with mental health?
Despite the instant association of play with childhood, play is most definitely not just for children. When we think of ‘play’, we tend to imagine slides, sandpits, ball games and make believe. This isn’t something many adults spend time doing (unless you have or work with young children, perhaps), but that doesn’t mean we don’t still play. It might look a little different as we grow and mature, but we can and do still play once we’re adults.
Sport is one of the more obvious examples – sport is quite literally playing a game! Computer games are another clear example. Many thousands of adults across the world play a variety of different games, whether alone or in online communities, that provide many of the same benefits listed above for children: social interaction, negotiation and cooperation, dexterity, problem solving and critical thinking – and of course, fun! But beyond that, it might be harder to think of ways in which adults play. However, if you start to look at things slightly differently, you see that play is everywhere.
If you write, draw, paint, build, knit, sew or any of the other myriad of creative and crafty activities that exist out there, then you are playing. If you act, sing, dance or play a musical instrument, you are playing. If you go to your local pub quiz every week or have a board game night with your friends, you’re playing.
It doesn’t have to be structured or official. It doesn’t have to be active or outdoors, and it absolutely doesn’t have to cost anything. If it gives you the chance to switch off, exercise your body, mind, or both while doing something you enjoy, it’s play.
But what is it about play that’s so beneficial?
As we can see from children, play fosters strong social connections – playing brings people together, helps to develop social skills, and creates a sense of belonging and understanding that helps to break down other barriers that might exist. This can reduce loneliness and isolation, which we know is a key factor in improving wellbeing.
Play also gives us the opportunity to stay mentally active, whether it’s solving problems, planning and organising, or lateral thinking. We tend to think that, once we’re adults, we only use this type of thinking in the workplace, but play gives us the chance to test and stretch our brain power in a way that we enjoy.
Play of all types (although especially that which involves some kind of arts and crafts activity) helps us indulge in our creative side and unleash our imagination. Unless we are lucky enough to work in a creative industry, we often neglect this side of ourselves once we enter into the world of work, but it’s a fundamental part of us that can be a great way to boost our mood if we take the time to nurture it.
Probably the most important aspect of play is that it’s fun! It’s a great way to relax, switch off from the taxing, stressful or dull work environment, and helps to distract us from weightier issues that bring us down. It gives us the opportunity to let go of our adult obligations and responsibilities for a while and simply enjoy the present moment. In this way, play is a type of mindfulness that can help us feel more fulfilled and joyful.
If you need some tips to incorporate more play into your life, give these a try:
Give yourself permission to have fun and carve out time for leisure, whether it’s active, quiet, solo, indoor or outdoor. If you enjoy it, it counts as play!
Be willing and open to learn and try new things
Use free time to daydream, reflect, decompress and think creatively
Spend time with children and watch how they play. Either start playing with them, or try to incorporate some of the same approaches in your day
Try putting down the phone and shutting the laptop. It’s possible to find examples of play online (see computer games above), but it’s less likely to feel as fulfilling if you only play games on your phone
Cultivate a positive attitude where you see the joy in small things. Smile and laugh as much as you can!
However you go about it, play can be a vital boost to our wellbeing that has profound benefits for all of us. So let’s not leave it to the kids – get out there and feel the joy!
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