Why Play?

"Play is an ancient, voluntary, inherently pleasurable, apparently purposeless activity or process that is undertaken for its own sake and that strengthens our muscles and our social skills, fertilizes brain activity, tempers and deepens our emotions, takes us out of time, and enables a state of balance and poise."

- Stuart L. Brown in 2009 interview with the American Journal of Play


"Pretend play allows children to practice social roles, and this makes them able to act appropriately in the 'real' social world also."
- Doris Bergen in 2016 interview with the American Journal of Play

"...when kids play on their own, they learn to be fast, or cagey, or charming, or funny, or creative in protecting themselves and turning play to their advantage.  Kids at play discover their strengths.

...They learn empathy and restraint when they play.

...none, of the murderers I studied joined in normal rough-and-tumble play.  Not even one.

...They weren't able to learn the boundaries or understand the give-and-take and the mutuality that is experienced in play."

- Excerpts from Stuart L. Brown's 2009 interview with the American Journal of Play

"Often adults are concerned when children play scary or mean or bossy roles, but these roles provide safe outlets that help children control their emotions in non-play settings."
- Doris Bergen in 2016 interview with the American Journal of Play

This TED talk by National Institute of Play founder Stuart L. Brown gives a simple breakdown of play and the reasons play is so important!

Find more TED talks about the importance of play HERE

 References

Bergen, D. (2016). Play, toys, learning, and understanding. American Journal of Play, 8(2), 145-156.

Brown, S. (2009). Discovering the importance of play through personal histories and brain images. American Journal of Play, 1(4), 399-412.