The Importance of Play as an Adult
Why play is vitally important to the success of future leaders
When we think of playing, we hark back to our childhood days of messing around on the beach, playing tag at recess, or spending hours with dolls or toys, walking them through entirely fictional scenarios. But as we grow older, we seem to lose that willingness to play, which can be detrimental to our ability to lead others, maintain meaningful relationships, and parent our children. This is becoming even more apparent with the speed of the all-digital brave new world we are living in.
Which begs the question, when was the last time you played?
If you’re scratching your head when trying to answer that question, then it may be the case that you’re in desperate need of a ‘play session.’ I’ll get into what play looks like as an adult shortly. But first, let’s discuss why play is so beneficial for adults specifically, as opposed to the children with which we most associate the concept.
Playing as an Adult Vs. Playing as a Child
When children engage in play, they are actively developing their cognitive, physical, social, and emotional skills without realizing it. One we reach a certain age; however, those skills develop to the extent that playing in a sandbox…
