Why Play Matters

Play is a big topic. While play is self-evident to most people, it’s value for good is not fully appreciated or acted upon. While play is usually associated with childhood, it’s pervasive throughout life and necessary for healthy development and healthy life.

Stresses on children and families have increased, and opportunities for creative, open-ended, imaginative play in homes, neighborhoods and schools have diminished. Many families do not have the resources to facilitate and maximize children’s development and learning through play.

Play is necessary for our survival as human beings. It’s fundamental to our relationships, our development, our capability to learn, our ability to innovate, and to our success in all areas of life and even to the health of society.

Neuroscience research validates the critical need for play for children’s healthy development and the increasing concern regarding the push down of academics into preschool and kindergartens, the elimination of recess in many schools, the over use of technology, and the lack of time or opportunities for childhood play.

“The loss of children’s learning habitat – a habitat that includes both the ability and the opportunity to explore and connect – is a real threat to our society’s future.” "The Importance of Being Little – What Preschoolers Really Need From Grownups", Erika Christakis

Animation, with music, of quote of Stuart Brown, MD, Founder National Institute of Play

Dr. Stuart Brown quotes from "Play - How it Shapes the Brain, Opens the Imagination, and Invigorates the Soul" illuminates the importance of play for children and adults.

“Neuroscientists, developmental biologists, psychologists, social scientists, and researchers from every point of the scientific compass now know that play is a profound biological process. It has evolved… to promote survival. It shapes the brain and makes (us) more adaptable.”

“It’s a basic biological drive as integral to our health as sleep or nutrition... Play … is the single most significant factor in determining our success and happiness.”

“Play lies at the core of creativity and innovation.”

“It energizes us and enlivens us. It eases our burdens. It renews our natural sense of optimism and opens us up to new possibilities.”

"Play is how we are made, how we develop and adjust to change….But in the end the most significant aspect of play is that it allows us to express our joy and connect most deeply with the best in ourselves, and in others.”

Peter Gray’s TED X talk “The Decline of Play” (5/2014) emphasizes the vital role of play:

“Play… is nature’s means of ensuring that mammals and young human beings, acquire the skills that they need to develop successfully into adulthood.”

“Play is where children learn they are in control of their own life; when we take that away we don’t give them a chance to learn how to control their own life.

“Play is where they learn to solve their own problems…”

“Play is where they learn to get along with peers and see from other points of view and practice empathy.”

“It’s the self-directed aspect of play that gives it its educative power.

The importance of play cannot be underestimated in its role and impact on children and families and the community at large. Our shared belief is that:

Play is essential to human development and well-being.
Play is not a luxury, it's not just a pastime and it's not just for kids. It's for all ages.
Play can keep us young at heart. It helps us see from a fresh perspective. It stimulates our thinking. It turns tasks into fun, builds relationships and makes life more meaningful and enjoyable.
Play experiences can be enhanced by the quality and frequency of play.
Promoting the benefits of play and facilitating an increased number of constructive play experiences will enhance the lives of the players, those that care for them and those that care about them, and society as a whole.
"Play is a behavior which requires a healthy habitat to thrive." “The evidence actually suggests that we should shift more resources and attention to what goes on at home – especially for parents who may need support to raise a healthy child.” "The Importance of Being Little – What Preschoolers Really Need From Grownups", Erika Christakis
“Community play opportunities form part of the glue, that brings families and communities together…. Play knows no racial differentiation.” “Best Play: What Play Provisions Should Do For Children,” National Playing Fields Association, 2000

Healthy benefits of play

“Research provides more and more evidence of the positive effects that well-developed play has on various areas of child development, such as children’s social skills, emerging mathematical ability, mastery of early literacy concepts, and self-regulation.” “Assessing and Scaffolding Make-Believe Play” by Deborah J. Leong and Elena Bodrova, Young Children, January 2012, National Association for the Education of Young Children

Play builds and exercises fundamental skills. (Develops sharper minds, literacy skills & healthier bodies.)

Play builds sensory, motor, language, memory, problem-solving and thinking skills.
Play gives us a way to communicate, with or without words.

Play helps form and maintain identity. (Builds stronger and balanced social-emotional skills.)

Playing allows us to develop relationships and learn about our abilities and our capabilities (assets).
Play enables us to learn how to work as a team member, control emotion and to resolve conflict.

Play encourages creativity. (Stimulates exploration, experimentation, imagination and innovation.)

Play exercises, develops and enriches our imagination, abstract reasoning capacity, memory and language, self-confidence and flexible attitude.
Play gives us opportunities to figure things out, and invent new ways of doing things.

Play instills values. (Establishes the lenses for seeing and acting in society.)

Play experiences help us discover the value of rules, directions, boundaries, manners, attitudes and moral virtues such as respect for oneself and others.
Play develops, strengthens, and rejuvenates relationships. Loving, supportive relationships enable us to develop, learn, and fulfill our potential.

Play transforms us. (Facilitates positive change and growth throughout life.)

Play gives us insight and changes our perception of others, our community, the world and ourselves.
Play enables us to change our knowledge, attitude, and behaviors.

“When (we) pay attention to the beginning of the story, (we) can change the whole story” “The Beginning of Life”, 2016 film

"When we treat children's play as seriously as it deserves, we are helping them feel the joy that's to be found in the creative spirit. It's the things we play with and the people who help us play that make a great difference in our lives.” Fred Rogers, American children's television host, Mister Rogers' Neighborhood

Recipe for Play

For all ages – for the child in all of us !

#1 . Allow time for play – pure play without distractions.

Turn off the TV, move away from the computer.
Bigger blocks of time & more frequent play is best.

#2. Play with others – children, family members, friends.

Take opportunities to spend “playful” time with each other.
Pretend, be silly, create together.
Listen, participate, sometimes follow, sometimes lead.
Share in others excitement of discovery, accomplishment.
Help others feel safe to express themselves freely.

#3. Create an encouraging environment – a safe, supportive setting.

Set up an environment that inspires pretend and creativity.
Allow for “messy” creative play and physically active play.
Set limits and rules, as necessary, to ensure safe play.
Acknowledge creativity and individual uniqueness.
Provide opportunities for solitary play and play with others.

#4. Provide a wide variety of materials and toys that stimulate play.

Provide props for play that encourages interaction with others.
Provide opportunities where the “process” is most important.
Provide multiple experiences to expand learning & perception.
Provide tools for play that support all development areas & skills

Sensory-Perceptual
Physical
Social-Emotional
Cognitive
Creative

Ingredients of Play

Experts say ingredients of constructive positive play include:

Children learn “I can” through their play experiences.