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The Practice of Play

You Don't Need Lessons on How to Play

It’s important for all of us to be in touch with what puts us in a state of play. Play and how it is enacted is unique to everyone. Most of us just need to follow our instinct to be playful.

Benefits of Play

  • Health benefits
  • Benefits for our kids
  • Benefits for society

Practicing Play

  • It’s not important how others play; what is important is what play is for you. When you are in your play “space” you achieve a sense of liberation, relief from day-to-day responsibilities and stressors.
  • The definition of play is that it is an absorbing, apparently purposeless activity that provides enjoyment and a suspension of self-consciousness and sense of time. The motivation to do it comes from inside you — you are instinctively drawn to it — so you want to do it again.
  • The positive effect of play is not dependent on age; all of us can experience the joy, relaxation, relief from day-to-day stresses and self-satisfaction that comes when we are in a state of play.
Older couple on motorcycle with sidecar having fun

Doing Something Just for Fun

We’re hardwired for doing something just for fun the same way we’re hardwired for fight-flight responses, to eat, drink and sleep!

Ropes course is unique fun to many people

Unique To You

Real Play is unique to the person. It’s an activity that you are innately attracted to because it triggers our Play circuits deep in our brain. Real Play lights up the brain like nothing else!

Working on a jigsaw puzzle can be where you lose track of time

Lose Track of Time

If it’s Real Play that you are engaged in and totally absorbed then you can do it for hours on end, losing track of time. You are not self-conscious.
Lifting weights can build your confidence

Feel More Optimistic, Creative

For the period you were absorbed in the activity you defocused from life’s responsibilities. You’ve exercised brain muscles that lead to a more balanced, creative, optimistic outlook on life.
Having Play as part of your adult life is important

Make Play Part of Your Life

Link to 3.2.1 How to make play part of your adult life

Having Play as part of Corporate Team Building is important

Make Play Part of Corporate Life

Link to 3.2.2 How to make play part of corporate life

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NIFPlay and Dr. Stuart Brown have been featured in these media outlets (and more!).

The Institute wants the world to know:
A) Playing, being playful, is the healthiest way to spend your time (after feeding and housing yourself).
B) The activities that evoke playful feelings are unique to each of us.

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