Play is so much more than "just fun"

Here at CreaTEAvity Studio, we delight in helping people reconnect to the healing power of creative play ... but what do we mean by 'play'?

The wonderful quote in the image above is from Dr Stuart Brown, founder of National Institute for Play. It's a quote that takes pride of place on CreaTEAvity Studio's 'hello' (home) page, because it sums up so perfectly how - when we allow ourselves time to take part in creative play time - we blossom, we heal, we grow, and we become more energised and excited by life.

When we play, as adults, we can leave behind our everyday lives, with all its cares, responsibilities, and worries.

It may take a little bit of time for you to feel able to let yourself "play". And that's perfectly ok.

Or you might feel that "play" - whatever form it comes in - is a complete waste of your precious time, so you're not possibly going to give yourself permission to do that. It's just silliness. And that's perfectly ok.

You may have had a really tough childhood, where play didn't figure much as part of your life. You might not "know" how to play. And that's perfectly ok.

Or you might be completely dismissive of the concept of "play", thinking that it's only for babies and children. And that's perfectly ok, too.

Here at CreaTEAvity Studio, we like to get stuck in to creative play: time to dig out the clay, colouring pens, coloured paper. All kinds of things. Laughter yoga can also help oil the locks, so you can free yourself from behind a locked door and come explore. And it can take time for you to feel comfortable enough to let the 'adult' you sit quietly in the corner, minding its own business, while you get on with playing and revealing what's going on ... just by wielding a coloured pen, a paintbrush, some glue and coloured paper, or creating chalk paintings on the floor, for example.

Because, as the National Institute for Play has as it's mission statement, "(The National Institute for) Play unlocks the human potential through play in all stages of life using science to discover all that play has to teach us about transforming our world."

Well, looksee at that ... "unlocks the human potential through play in all stages of life".

And as I have so often found with clients, play really IS so much more than just fun. It really can help unlock that "... doorway to a new self, one much more in tune with the world. Because play is all about trying on new behaviours and thoughts, it frees us from established patterns." (Dr Stuart Brown)

Brown's research shows play is not just joyful and energising, it is deeply involved with human development and intelligence. Humour, games, flirtation and fantasy, for example, are more than "just fun". Keeping up plenty of play in our adulthood can make us smarter, happier and balanced - at any age. It's never too late to begin playing!

When you have a space half hour, I warmly encourage you to take a look at this oldie-but-goodie TED.tv video, sharing Dr Brown's wise insights to the power of Play:

(Can't see the video? Please use this link: https://www.ted.com/talks/stua...)

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gift yourself permission to play, heal & show your true colours in the CreaTEAvity Studio: a space to nurture, reconnect to, and rejuvenate your creative spirit - wherever you are in the world

Categories: : creative play