As the sun shines its merciful rays on this cold and tired city, I see life come back with more and more people outside. Inevitably, you see more people out and about- walking in the sun, at the park, hosting barbecue parties, and engaging in intramural sports. It occurs to me how much our bodies in the winter longed for movement, and also longed for play. Whenever I think of the word “play,” I imagine the typical situation where a mother talks to their child and asks if they want to have a “play date” with a friend, and when the mother says this, the child cringes, crinkles up their nose and says “ugh mom so embarrassing, we are just hanging out” And so begins another playless life. Why is it that we have this feeling of “play” being childish? When did play become something cringy or superfluous? In the mental health world, play therapy is a proven intervention model for children in treatment, however, it tends to fade out into typical narrative or talk therapy as a child goes to teenage years and into adulthood. I started to wonder if there are parts of this play that we engaged in as children that we have lost now, but that our brains and bodies may still need.

Encourages Emotional Expression

For children, play serves as a natural outlet for expressing emotions such as feelings of anger, fear, or joy, allowing them to process those emotions in a constructive way. Children often don’t have words to express the inner feelings they carry and this is often the case for many adults as well. Therefore, play for adults can also tap into emotions that may have been suppressed. If you are a regular client, you have probably often been asked the well known question, “And how does that make you feel?” Sometimes this question is too head on for adults just as it is for children. And engaging in art, creative writing, or guided role-play exercises can help bring those emotions to the surface and allow for expression in a more natural and healthy, non-threatening manner.

Creativity and Skill Building

Planned play fosters creative thinking by encouraging individuals to approach challenges with an open mind. Whether it’s solving puzzles, creating stories, or engaging in imaginative role-play, individuals are encouraged to think outside the box. This can be particularly beneficial for children, whose brains are rapidly developing, but adults can also benefit from a creative outlet to help them approach problems from different angles as adults often find themselves stuck in the same rigid way of approaching problems as they always have.

Stress Relief and Coping Skills

In today’s fast-paced world, many people—especially adults—are consumed by responsibilities and deadlines. Play offers a break from the constant mental strain. When people are engaged in an activity purely for enjoyment, they tend to focus on the present moment, which can reduce stress and promote mindfulness. I know my brain can tend to become overwhelmed with all the future tasks at hand, but getting to engage in play helps me to slow down, disengage from my usual rhythm and be present with myself and others.

I know I am just as guilty as the next person with getting so bogged down in my routine and rituals, the practicalities of adult life- that I often forget how to play or even feel too tired. In my own therapy journey, finding my own passions, desires, and delights has really helped me to connect to my  “inner child” as they say and engage in play, whether that be game nights or DND, karaoke or DJing, poetry or story telling, writing or drawing or creating immersive theme nights for friends and family. On the surface, these things may not seem to directly affect mental health, but the impact that various forms of play can have on emotional regulation and expression, stress relief and community building can alter a person’s life from surviving to thriving.

Reach Out

With this in mind, engaging various aspects of our person in creative ways is paramount. I encourage you to join me in this effort to intentionally interrupt our busy lives with a moment of purposeful play to enhance our emotional lives and relational connection to ourselves and others. If you’re ready to explore this more deeply with the support of a therapist, we’d love to walk alongside you. Check out our get started page and connect with someone from our team today.