Play. It Matters.

It’s important for our development as children, and for our longevity as adults. It makes us happier, and smarter.

Play inspires you to think out of the box, inviting creativity and collaboration. It helps build and nurture strong relationships. Seriously.

We Learn from Play

As children, play teaches us negotiation, problem solving, and
critical thinking skills. We learn how to communicate with each other,
empathize, and control our emotions. Play teaches us to roll with the punches. For adults, a foundation in play is important because it builds community, keeps the mind sharp, and is a way for us to keep the ones we care about close.

Play Benefits You

If play is so important for our health, happiness, and cognitive development, then why do adults make it a low priority, if at all? For some of us, we get caught up in being “busy”. We check off our life to-dos like groceries, bills, laundry and dinner, neglecting to schedule “down time” for being still or visiting with friends. For others of us, we get caught up in what others expect adults to say and do – embarrassed about our desire to dance at the office, have a Nerf battle at home, or blow bubbles outside just because.

So, what if we make a commitment to schedule time for play. It doesn’t have to be complex, just anything done simply for our own enjoyment. I love yoga and hiking. I enjoy baking with my daughter and playing games with my son. I enjoy time with friends, sharing a good meal and lots of laughs. I like to travel and lucky me that I have the best travel partner in my sister. Sometimes I like to journal…or to just sit on my patio in
the sunshine.

Play Benefits Your Community

These activities of pure enjoyment not only do wonders for you,
they tend to have a ripple effect on communities. Happiness and
light-heartedness are contagious. People want to surround themselves with
individuals who smile and laugh. Friendships can more naturally form, building a sense of responsibility and reciprocity to each other develops. Plus, it’s a lot easier to diffuse tension, tackle differences, and overcome problems with the friend that lives across the street than it is the stranger.