June 2025

Play Note: How Adults Can Reclaim Joy Through Play

Many adults feel disconnected from joy — it’s not lost, it’s buried under layers of responsibility and routine. This Play Note explores how innately motivated play helps us rediscover aliveness, reduce stress, and reconnect with what truly brings us joy. It includes reflection prompts to help you identify your own unique play nature and start making space for what lights you up inside.

Profile: Dr. Jaak Panksepp

Researcher Identified the Emotional Power of Play

Dr. Jaak Panksepp was a pioneering neuroscientist whose research revealed that emotions arise from ancient regions of the brain. He identified seven primary emotional systems (e.g., SEEKING, FEAR, PLAY, …) rooted in subcortical brain structures. His work showed that these emotional experiences are not learned—they are produced by dedicated neuronal systems deep in the brain i.e., play is a core feature of our biology. He established that play contributes to brain development, learning, social bonding, and lifelong well-being. Researchers who built on Panksepp’s work have shown that our brains ‘fire on all cylinders’ during playful experiences.

Play News and Updates

Register for Webinar with Dr. Stuart Brown – July 15, 2025 | 2:00 – 3:15pm ET

Play for Life: How Recreation Fuels Health and Happiness
Play isn’t just for children—it’s a powerful force for wellness at every age. In this unique cross-generational session, renowned play researcher Dr. Stuart Brown is joined by his daughter and granddaughter to explore how play fuels physical, emotional, and social health across the lifespan. 

HBR: Play Unlocks Workplace Creativity

In today’s fast-paced work culture, creativity often takes a back seat — yet it thrives in playful, relaxed states of mind. Former Disney executive Duncan Wardle argues that adopting a playful mindset at work enhances innovation, problem-solving, and team connection. Scientific research supports this: our best ideas often emerge during mind-wandering or joyful, low-stress activities — not during meetings or email marathons. By incorporating energizing activities, redesigning physical spaces to invite spontaneity, and intentionally using playfulness at the right moments, teams can shift from a stressed “beta” state to more creative “alpha” or “theta” states. This isn’t about goofing off — it’s about unlocking human potential. Whether in the classroom, boardroom, or creative studio, prioritizing fun, psychological safety, and informal connection can fuel breakthroughs. The future of productive, resilient work — and well-being — lies in play. Source: Harvard Business Review

Playposium 2025 Recap: the Future of Playful Pedagogy

What happens when you send a busload of playful educators to summer camp? Magic.

Playposium 2025 brought together a joyful and diverse community of educators—from pre-K to higher ed—for four days of immersive learning, connection, and play at the University of Denver’s Kennedy Mountain Campus in Colorado. The program featured movement coach Darryl Edwards, the joy of juggling with The Playful Campus, future-facing design work with Morgan Shidler and Dr. Stuart Brown was interviewed by his granddaughter, Mia Sundstrom. Participants also explored their inner “Perception Box” with Lisa Forbes of Professors at Play. Innoplay’s Maarten Koeners and Adam Lusby led sessions exploring how play shapes how we think, feel, and work. The result? A reimagined sense of what education can be when rooted in creativity, community, and joy.

So, what is a Playposium? It’s more than a retreat. It’s a playful revolution—one that’s transforming education by helping educators rediscover their spark and share it with others.

The Playposium was made possible with the generous support of Unlikely Collaborators

Current Issues of Play Journals

• American Journal of Play – 2025  Issue 1
• International Journal of Play – 2025 Issue 1
• Int’l Journal of Play Therapy – 2025 Issue 2
• Journal of Play in Adulthood – 2025  Issue 1
• International Journal of Playwork Practice