The Power of Play - a report by NIFP

If you thought play was just for kids you need to read this report. 

Research into human play is growing across many scientific disciplines. Neuroscientists have shown that play circuits are pre-wired in our brains at birth. Evolutionary biologists have shown that play behaviors have evolved over eons to enhance our adaptability and thus our survival. Education researchers have shown that playing = learning.

Decades of research has shown that play reduces stress, grows our brains, helps us learn, unleashes our creativity, facilitates our relationships, and contributes to well-being.

“The Power of Play” distills decades of research to answer questions like:

• What is Play?
• Why is Play important?
• Why do we Play?
• How have we been wired to Play?
• Where did Play come from?
• What are common styles of Play?
• What happens when we don’t Play?

“The Power of Play” was written by two renowned Play experts.

Scott G Eberle, PhD, founding editor of the American Journal of Play and a regular contributor to Psychology Today.

Stuart Brown MD, founder of the National Institute for Play and author of Play: How It Shapes the Brain, Opens the Imagination, and Invigorates the Soul.

Cover of the report "The Power of Play - LOSING AND FINDING OURSELVES THROUGH EVERYDAY PLAY