Why is play so important (and not just for children)?
About this episode
This episode discusses the critical role of play in adult life and its benefits for mental health and relationships.
✨ Today's magic moment features our new ThoughtBox website ✨ Play is not just for children; it is an essential adult survival tool. And yet we find ourselves living in so many cultures where play is being eroded from childhood and is virtually non-existent amongst adults. Beyond the core developmental qualities that play enables in children, engaging in recreational activities that bring joy lowers stress, triggers mood-boosting endorphins, fuels creativity, and strengthens relationships by building trust and empathy. Play also reminds us of the vitality of life and offers a more generative way of living. So why is it that play has disappeared and how can we welcome it back into our lives and communities? In this episode we reference the following: Dirt is Good campaign (website) How play made us and keeps us human - Maria Popov (article) OPAL- Outdoor Play and Learning - organisation (website) Play based learning at St Ebbe's Primary, Oxford (website page) How play boosts creativity and resilience - Katina Bajaj (TedTalk Podcast) Rediscovering Play - Mindful Spark (blogpost) Play Based Learning with Dr Peter Gray (video) There's an inconvenient movement growing... It's not…
Topics covered
- importance of play
- adult play
- mental health
- creativity
- relationships
- community
Keywords
- play
- adults
- mental health
- creativity
- relationships
- stress relief
- community
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: ThoughtBox, Dirt is Good, OPAL, St Ebbe's Primary, Mindful Spark
More episodes of Two Inconvenient Women
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- What's the point of hope?
- Red Alert: can we talk about the climate emergency now?
- Does childhood need reclaiming?
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