by Lisa Grant-Feeley, MS, LPC
As founder of
the National Institute of Play, Stuart Brown, MD, compares play to oxygen. That’s a strong comparison considering
that none of us have gone without breathing in even the last minute, but how
many of us can remember the last time we really played? Not every minute, but daily or
often.
Brown considers
play to be a “state of being” and “purposeless fun and pleasurable.” It is a state of being because when we
play, we engage our minds, bodies, and spirits. It is purposeless because there
is no real goal or consequence. I’m fortunate to be able to remember playing
outside as a child for hours on end; the excitement and anticipation of running
out the door filled with a sense of freedom, anticipation and curiosity for
whatever the next few hours would bring. I fully committed to whatever and
wherever play brought me, whether it be creating a fantasy land for fairies, (whom
I was sure existed), burying a box filled with treasures to be dug up when I
was “all grown-up”, finding neighborhood kids to play hide and seek or kick
ball, or just climbing trees and pretending I lived alone in the forest. The possibilities were as endless as my
imagination.
Besides the
sheer enjoyment of play, numerous additional benefits exist. Play gives us the
chance to connect to others and increases our sense of social wellbeing. As Plato aptly said, “You can discover
more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation.” In addition, play that utilizes our
brainpower helps to maintain cognitive function and increases creativity, productivity
and cooperation at home and at work. Furthermore, adults who play and are playful
demonstrate higher overall life satisfaction, as reported by numerous studies. Play adds to our social, mental and
emotional wellbeing. Play is powerful!
Keep in mind
that there are many ways to play, and getting in touch with your preference
could enhance your life in a meaningful way. Try being light-hearted or silly
or doing something out of character like tickling your spouse, whatever brings
delight. It doesn’t matter how you play, but rather, that you do play.
As George
Bernard Shaw wisely reminded us: “We don’t stop playing because we grow old; we
grow old because we stop playing.”
Lisa
Grant-Feeley, MS, LPC works with children, teens and families as well as
individuals. She specializes in
working with individuals with ADHD and related behaviors. She is dedicated to helping families
work to create peace in their homes by working with all members of the
family. To connect with Lisa,
please call 267-625-2565 or visit her website lisagrantfeeleytherapy.com.
