Just Play!
“We are never more fully alive, more completely ourselves, or more deeply engrossed in anything than when we are playing.” — Charles Schaefer
Okay… great. But what does it really mean to play? A quick search shows that play has been defined in a bunch of different of ways, by an equally large number of sources. The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines play (v.) as the act of engaging in “sport or recreation.” Google’s dictionary writes that to play is to “engage in activity for enjoyment and recreation rather than a serious or practical purpose.” The list goes on.
All of these definitions suggest two things. The first idea would be to say that the definitions of play are so all over the place because it is such a universal human activity or instinct, experienced by so many different people. The second conclusion would suggest that the definitions are so scattered because play is becoming more and more scarce in our day-to-day lives.
What if we were to tell you that both are true: play is universal and human, yet it’s slowly fading out of the lives of even young children. And this is dangerous; scientists have found a link between a lack of play and things like “criminality, obesity, and declining creativity” (link). You may be thinking about all of the children you see playing games on their parents’ phones or tablets, and while it’s true that many electronic games can be beneficial to development, it is not nearly the most beneficial kind of play.
The best kind of play, according to Dr. Marc Bekoff, is pure, unstructured, and imaginative. During this kind of play, people have to make up their own rules and come to common agreements about how they are going to have fun together. This kind of play has serious benefits for the health and development of the brain’s prefrontal cortex, which is in charge of decision-making, personality, complex thinking, and social behavior.
Luckily for all of us, play is actually involved in a lot more things than we might think. Dr. Stuart Brown, a leading play researcher and a founder of the National Institute for Play, writes that watching movies, listening to music, viewing art, and even flirting and daydreaming all involve play.
One of the key things that makes play genuine is its aimlessness, its unproductivity. To many, those words strike negative chords; but with regards to play you should have no fear. Brown calls play a catalyst, stating that even a little bit of frequent play can lead to increased creativity and productivity in all aspects of life. Make sure, however, that when you play, you’re focused on the joy of playing itself, as opposed to the benefits you’ll get out of it.
If these benefits aren’t enough to get you out and playing, maybe we need to dig a little deeper into the science. During and immediately after play, scientists have recorded a consistent decrease in blood pressure, as well as an increase in the release of dopamine, the neurotransmitter in our brain that controls our reward and pleasure systems. In simpler terms, playing reduces stress and increases pleasure and happiness.
Dr. Sergio Pellis, a neuroscientist at the University of Lethbridge in Alberta, conducted an extensive play study on several groups of rats. One group was denied play at a young age, while the control group grew up normally, playfully wrestling and fighting with their fellow rats. When put in a new cage with different rats, the group that had been denied play was not able to protect themselves or adapt to their new settings. The control group of rats, however, were able to hide from and evade new threats. For these rats, their exposure to play at a young age was quite literally a matter of survival.
On a lighter note, we want to mention all the social benefits of play! Whether it’s bringing together strangers or healing cracked relationships, play facilitates positive social interactions like few other activities can. In his studies on the importance of play, Dr. Brown observed the effects that play had on couples, and found that it simultaneously helped “rekindle relationships,” and “explore other forms of emotional intimacy” (link).
We could go on for pages and pages about the benefits of play, but now’s the time for action!
Here are a few things you can do to lead a more playful life…
Spend more time around children
The kids know best, especially when it comes to play. When you’re around them, don’t consider yourself too mature or too old to play, and let them have the most control over deciding the rules.
Be more aware of your surroundings
This earth is truly our playground. Stop and look around every once in a while, you’ll be surprised how much more of an urge you will have to play with your surroundings. It could just mean sliding down the railing at the bottom of the stairs, but little things like this make a serious difference!
Keep a play history
In his studies, Dr. Brown recorded the “play histories” of thousands of people. Try to remember and write down how you played as a child. Think about things like how it made you feel, if you did it with others, and any other facts you think might be important.
Join a local sports team
Although playing sports isn’t the MOST beneficial kind of play, it still has serious social, mental, and physical benefits. Tons of towns and cities have co-ed, casual sports leagues that you can join with minimal commitment. So join a team, make some friends, and enjoy yourself.
Of course these are just a few of the ways that you can incorporate play into your lives. Nearly everything benefits from play, like butter and salt; but unlike butter and salt, play comes with none of the negative side effects.
So find a friend, make some time, and just play!
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