Play
Play refers to physical activities that are freely undertaken for pleasure, without externally imposed rules.
'Play' refers to physical activities that are freely undertaken for pleasure. It is generally fun (although it can be serious) and participatory, intrinsically motivated, unstructured, and free of externally imposed rules (e.g., for children not directed by adults). 4
There is evidence that play is linked to positive cognitive and social development benefits for children, which suggests that it is an important area of focus for improving overall health and wellbeing long term. 45, 46
While often considered an activity for children, play, as a creative expression of physical activity, is also a valuable activity for adults that can help improve social and mental wellbeing and improves cognitive flexibility and alertness. 46, 47, 48, 49
Further reading and resources
- Play for adults, opens in a new tab, National Institute for Play, (accessed 11 January 2024). Over the last 30 years, science has shown that play is very productive for humans at any age; we need play to keep our brains flexible, ward off depression, sustain optimism, and sharpen our social-emotional skills.
- Play, opens in a new tab, Psychology Today, (accessed 11 January 2024). Play—or fun, imaginative, relaxed, and self-directed activities—is a key part of life for children and adults alike. Play tends to be self-chosen, removed in some way from “real” life, and governed by a set of rules determined by the players, rather than an outside source. Play has myriad payoffs and is more common in children than adults; however, adults can and do play, often to their own benefit.
- The Importance of Play for Adults, opens in a new tab, Saya Des Marais, PsychCentral, (updated November 2022). We all know that play is important for children. Kids need play to develop and we automatically add play time into their daily schedules. Research shows that play is critical for adults’ well-being too — but many of us don’t play enough anymore. Anything you do recreationally that brings you joy or excitement counts as playing, whether it’s getting stuck into a video game, playing sports, collecting stamps, or writing short stories in your spare time. Whatever style of play works for you, know that making time for it can have substantial benefits for your mental and physical well-being.
- The Play Return: A review of the wider impact of play initiatives, opens in a new tab, Gill T, commissioned by the Children’s Play Policy Forum, United Kingdom, (2014). This report presents evidence to build the case for improving play opportunities for children; the focus is on children of primary school age. It looks at quantitative evidence of the wider outcomes and impact of play interventions and initiatives. The report looks at four types of interventions that each target a different setting: (1) opportunities for free play during school breaks; (2) unsupervised public access play facilities; (3) supervised out-of-school (before/after) activities; and (4) street play initiatives. Drawing on this review of the empirical evidence, the report reaches the following conclusions about the wider impact of play initiatives:
- Play initiatives lead to improvements in children’s physical and mental health and well-being and are linked to a range of other cognitive and social developmental benefits. While evidence of beneficial outcomes is strongest for play in schools, it is reasonable to expect the same outcome in other contexts where children have comparable play experiences.
- Families and communities, as well as children, benefit from play initiatives. Play initiatives generate high levels of volunteering and community action by adults. This finding is echoed by the consistently strong support for play initiatives stated in opinion polls.
- Play initiatives are associated with inter-related benefits across a range of health and developmental domains.
- The improvement in opportunities for play is a valid outcome in its own right. When combined with the well documented benefits of play’s contribution to health; physical and cognitive development; and social skills, the case for greater play opportunities is well supported.
- Playful sport design: A game changer?, opens in a new tab Sarina Verwijmeren, Juriena de Vries, Arnold Bakker, Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, Volume 36(1), pp.45-74, (2024). Article introduce the concept Playful Sport Design (PSD), which refers to athletes’ proactive addition of play elements to their sports training. Authors present a scale that reliably and validly measures PSD. Further, they show that PSD is positively associated with immersion in sports training and sports performance. Results of this paper could result in more awareness among adult athletes that play during sports training has beneficial sports outcomes and open the door for practitioners to develop PSD interventions, through which athletes are taught how they can approach their training sessions in a more playful manner.
- Why just exercise if you can play? Interest in a modified sports program to enhance physical activity among primary care patients, opens in a new tab, Christopher Sciamanna, Andrew Mowen, Jennifer Kraschnewski, et.al., Preventive Medicine Reports, Volume 8, pp.273-278, (December 2017). This survey was designed to determine the interest of primary care patients in participating in program designed to maximize enjoyment. Primary care patients (n=540) in Central Pennsylvania reported their interest in participating in a “a regular fitness program where people your own age played games, such as softball, floor hockey and soccer, that were made to be easier to play and less competitive.” Mean age was 58.4 years. More than one-third, including 59.6% of those under age 50, were interested in the modified sports fitness program. After adjusting for confounders, patients under age 40 were 5.9 times as interested (v. age > 70) and non-white patients were 3.4 times interested. Female patients and those with hypertension, high cholesterol or obesity were equally interested. A fitness program that consists of modified sports may be of interest to most primary care patients under age 50. Patients' initial interest appears high enough to warrant further development and testing.
- You think you are too old to play? Playing games and aging, opens in a new tab, Bronkkowska M, Bronikowski M and Schott N, Human Movement, Volume 12(1), (2011). Among the elderly, exercise compliance presents a barrier to improved health through physical activity. Older persons tend to drop out of programs that may be ‘too organised’ or too challenging. This paper explores the rationale for using traditional games to encourage physical activity, and as a way of engaging the elderly in social activities. Such activities do not have specialised skill requirements and may be useful as a form of physiotherapy.
- Every Body Active Strategic Plan 2020-2024, opens in a new tab, Sport New Zealand, (2020). When we refer to the Play, Active Recreation and Sport system we’re talking about central and local government agencies, regional sports trusts, sport organisations, private and commercial providers, schools, clubs, teams, investors, social groups and families. It encompasses the collection of regulations, organisations, places and people who directly or indirectly participate, support, contribute to or influence Play, Active Recreation and Sport in Aotearoa New Zealand. There are four domains to physical activity: active leisure, active transport, household chores and occupational activity. Our role and core purpose is within the active leisure domain. It is here where we seek to improve physical activity levels through Play, Active Recreation and Sport to ensure the greatest impact on wellbeing of all those living within Aotearoa New Zealand.
- Play Australia, opens in a new tab is the peak national advocacy organisation for Play. They support outdoor play by way of inspiration, advice, access to information and professional services. As the Australian branch of the International Play Association (IPA) they also help to protect the human rights of all children to play, as recognised within Article 31 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.
- 1000 Play Streets Toolkit, opens in a new tab, Play Australia, (accessed 11 January 2024). 1000 Play Streets is a movement for Australians to reclaim their quiet residential streets as places for neighbours of all ages to connect and play, to create stronger and healthier communities.
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