We Learn as We Play

I am addicted to Words with Friends.  The revelation dawned on me this morning, as I currently have 7 games going, with my sister and friends from all over the United States.  This made think of the concept of play, the role is has in my life, and my friend Emilee who often says, “We learn as we play.”   

When was the last time you played chess/jenga/twister, put together a puzzle, flew a kite, or colored in a coloring book?  Those things may seem “childish”, but play is the most authentic doorway to learning.  By nature, humans are born to play. Playing is instinctive and fundamental to our existence. It is simultaneously a source of calmness and relaxation, as well as a source of stimulation for the brain and body. Playfulness helps us be more inventive, smart, happy, flexible, and resilient.  It is a way to develop and stimulate imagination, creativity, and problem-solving abilities. The components of play - curiosity, discovery, novelty, risk-taking, trial and error, pretense, games, social etiquette and other increasingly complex adaptive activities - are the same as the components of learning.

We often take play for granted, but it is as important to our physical and mental health as getting enough sleep, eating well, and exercising. Sharing joy, laughter and fun with others promotes bonding and strengthens a sense of community. We develop empathy, compassion, trust, and the capacity for intimacy through regular play. Play can also heal resentments, disagreements, and hurts. Through regular play, we learn to trust one another and feel safe. Trust enables us to work together, open ourselves to intimacy, and try new things. Social skills are learned in the give and take of play. Verbal communication and body language, safety and danger, freedom and boundaries, cooperation and teamwork: all are discovered and practiced repeatedly.


Despite the power of play, somewhere between childhood and adulthood, many of us stop playing. We exchange play for work and responsibilities. When we do have some leisure time, we're more likely to zone out in front of the TV or computer than to engage in creative, brain-stimulating play. Work is where we spend much of our time. That is why it is especially important for us to play during work. Without some recreation, our work suffers. Success at work doesn't depend on the amount of time you work. It depends upon the quality of your work. And the quality of your work is highly-dependant on your well-being.

Taking the time to replenish yourself through play is one of the best things you can do for your career. When the project you're working on hits a serious glitch (as they frequently do), heading out to the basketball court with your colleagues to shoot some hoops and have a few laughs does more than take your mind off the problem. Play allows your relationship to the problem to shift and enable you to approach it from a new perspective.

By giving ourselves permission to play with the joyful abandon of childhood, we can continue to reap its benefits throughout life.  To that I say, “ PLAY ON, PLAYER!”

-Nicole

For more information about “PLAY”, check out the following articles.

10 Reasons Play Can Make You Healthy, Happy, and More Productive – Top ten list of the many ways play contributes to mental and physical health. (U.S. News & World Report)

The Creativity Personality – Article by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi on the ten traits that many creative individuals share. (Psychology Today)