Introduction
We know stress is bad for us, but alas, we’re surrounded! Internal and external sources of strife can be contagious, compounded, unpredictable and well, stressful!
Play sets us up for success in the face of stress. We are neurologically wired to play by nature; as our last issue of Play Times illustrated, we are designed to be playful throughout our lives. As children, playing develops robust executive functioning that gives us, as adults, the adaptability to handle life in smooth times and healthy coping mechanisms for rough times. A lifetime of play forges resilience -reserves we can draw on when things get on our nerves!
In stressful situations, our mind and body are primed to:
- Decrease cortisol (stop feeling scared)
- Release endorphins (start feeling good)
- Keep things in perspective (change the narrative)
- Create joy and connection (affect the outcome)
We can’t stop the stressful situations in our lives, but we can prevent extreme responses and grow our ability to reset after emotional reactions -spend more time being playful! So let the good (and bad) times roll – you can handle them!
Our next issue will feature a Play Note on taking your own Play History. As we grow our community, we welcome your input, reflections, and contributions! If you create content that can enrich any of our Play Notes, let us know about it.
Play Note: The Impact of Play on Stress
Play and stress are closely linked. Play creates a reservoir of resilience that enables playful people to cope longer (acceptance, positive reframing) with stressors. The stress hormone, cortisol, takes longer to be released when playful people are in stressful situations.
Physical play stimulates the release of our ‘feel-good’ hormones, endorphins, which promotes a positive mood, reduces stress, and contributes to overall well-being.
The American Academy of Pediatrics has advised their pediatrician members to “prescribe play” to the parents of their young patients.
Check out how dancing, story-telling, painting, and other playful activities can be effective ways to release stress, create joy and foster social connections – A 7-minute TedX Talk.
Practitioners for Children’s Play and Independence (PCPI) Initiative
The current generation of American children is experiencing a crisis. The rates of child anxiety and depression are skyrocketing. Researchers and clinicians are rediscovering something that was once understood intuitively – kids need FREE PLAY for their long-term well-being.
A leader of the FREE PLAY movement is Dr. Peter Gray, a professor of evolutionary psychology at Boston College. His influential book, Free to Learn: Why Unleashing the Instinct to Play Will Make Our Children Happier, More Self-Reliant, and Better Students for Life (Basic Books, 2013), argues that in order to foster children who will thrive in today’s rapidly changing world, we must entrust them to steer their own learning and development. Dr. Gray is an active online publisher; his Substack Play Makes Us Human; blog Freedom to Learn; Website; and Facebook.
NIfPlay is collaborating with Dr. Gray on an initiative called Practitioners for Children’s Play and Independence (PCPI). Building on extensive evidence including from the American Academy of Pediatrics, PCPI seeks to have pediatricians and child therapists prescribe Free Play. Read more here about specific ways to encourage Free Play. If you want to get involved, complete the Stay Connected form at the bottom of the page.
Play News & Updates
- Jonathan Haidt’s book “The Anxious Generation” boldly proclaims that social media is causing the teen mental health crisis. Candice Odgers (UC Irvine), arguably the leading US researcher on the relation of social media to teen mental health writes that the book’s claims are not supported by science. Peter Gray expresses concern that Haidt’s book will, “feed into and exacerbate what already was verging on a moral panic about potential harms of smartphones and social media on kids.”
- Ireland declares, and funds, a National Play Day. The government announcement says, “The aim of National Play Day is to promote play opportunities for children and young people all across the country.” They are providing money to local governments to promote the importance of play and to create, “play opportunities for a diverse range of children and young people in their communities.” Source
- IPA USA (International Play Association) 2024 Conference in Greenville, SC – September 25-28, 2024 Registration is Open
- National Day of Play is September 21, 2024! The IPA USA Board has approved mini-grants up to $200 for this year’s celebration. Read more and apply for the grant here using this brief google form before August 15th.
Links to the current issues of the 4 peer reviewed play journals:
- American Journal of Play – 2024 Issue 1
- International Journal of Play – 2024 Issue 2
- Journal of Play in Adulthood – 2024 Issue 1
- International Journal of Play Therapy – 2024 Issue 2
