the power of play
Catherine Lawson
When was the last time you played a game of rounders, built a LEGO structure, or even kicked a football aimlessly around the park purely to have some fun? Most of us would probably have to rack our brains to remember the last time we did anything which could remotely be classed as play. The older we get, the more we find ourselves held hostage by social expectations, work demands, and the constant need to be productive; pressures which limit our ability to make space for the kind of unstructured, spontaneous play that promotes creativity, social connections, innovation and (most importantly) joy. We know that play is a fundamental human need in childhood, but it’s equally important in our adult years.
Let’s take rounders as an example – a traditional childhood game which has stood the test of time because it’s cheap (all you need is a bat and a ball), it gets everyone moving, it involves the thrill of one team against the other, and it can almost always be arranged at a moment’s notice. There’s nothing quite like that feeling when the bat strikes the ball and you run for your life with the rest of your team cheering you on. As adults, it’s the kind of informal game which offers a glorious laughter-filled escape from everyday responsibilities, and while it may leave us winded, it does wonders for every aspect of our wellbeing.
When we get the chance to immerse ourselves in play, as children do, it reminds us that we can still be adventurous, curious, carefree… even a little bit goofy as the younger generation would no doubt be quick to tell us. According to Dr Stuart Brown, the American psychiatrist who founded the National institute for Play (yes – it’s a thing), play is a biological necessity. Far from being frivolous, it’s central to how we build resilience, nurture relationships and explore creativity – vital components for psychological and emotional wellbeing. You only need to observe a group of adults kitted out in combats and charging through the forest paintballing each other to see how liberating it can be to escape into an imaginary world. From a psychological perspective, such play creates a transitional space where we can separate ourselves from our day-to-day routines and be brave, bold risk-takers, interacting with each other in whole new ways. We all need that from time to time.
There are lots of ways to bring more play into our lives, however, that don’t depend on teams of players or expensive days out. Throwing a ball around for the dog or playing chase on the beach can bring fleeting moments of spontaneous joy, reducing our stress levels and reminding us that it’s ok to break into an unscheduled run once in a while. Getting the LEGO box out and building something from pure imagination can get us in the kind of creative flow that goes on long after the kids in the room have given up and moved onto something else. Even telling ghost stories round the fire pit at the end of the day can activate the play in us, encouraging us to dispel belief for a while as we enthusiastically perform our role as either storyteller or listener. However we choose to play, the point is this: it’s about enjoyment, not achievement.
To that end, play is more about mindset than the activity itself. When we open ourselves to the wonders of the world with curiosity, light-heartedness and a dash of verve, we re-awaken the child in us who is always ready to play. And when we do that, we have moments where we feel truly alive.
