Understanding the Value of Play for Adults

A recent post on Facebook of a toddler finger painting got me wondering; at what age do we decide finger painting is no longer an option. It’s not just finger painting, but what about playing chase, or jumping on a trampoline or just lying in the grass watching the clouds go by. I’m not suggesting we all run off to Neverland and refuse to “grow up”.

There is, however, something to be said about the value of incorporating play into our lives.

Dr. Stuart Brown, director of a nonprofit called the National Institute for Play, states, ”Play is something done for its own sake. It’s voluntary, it’s pleasurable, it offers a sense of engagement, it takes you out of time. And the act itself is more important than the outcome.” Engaging in play gives you permission to forget about work, commitments and goals for a while. It is a chance to be social in an unstructured way.

Abandoning yourself to youthful play provides many lifelong health advantages.

Play invokes all our senses and provides beneficial effects to the prefrontal cortex. It is a means of relaxing and providing stimulation. When we play, problems and challenges naturally work themselves out in our unconscious mind. Even a few hours spent doing something you love can make you new again. Engaging in play improves your mood and lowers your stress level, as well as enhances your imagination, creativity and problem-solving abilities. Couples who sustain a mutual sense of playfulness have healthier relationships. Many studies suggest playing games helps maintain memory and thinking skills. Play nourishes the spirit.

Zoning out in front of the TV or computer when you have leisure time is not a substitution for play. The absence of play can have serious consequences for adults. Do you remember the old idiom, “all work and not play makes Jack a dull boy.” Turns out, there is truth to this. Play deprivation decreases perseverance and enjoyment of work, making life seem more grueling. Brian Sutton-Smith, who spent his career as a psychologist in the study of play, stated the “opposite of play is not work, it is depression.”

We all need to play.

So make time to goof off with friends, share a joke with a coworker, dress up at Halloween, play ball with your dog, plan a game night with family, go explore on your bike with your partner or finger paint like a toddler. It will be time well spent.

Ann Sheerin MA
Asheerin @ GROWcounseling.com

Photo Credit: Jenni C.