The importance of play
Play nurtures mental well-being, strengthens our connections with others and boosts motivation and optimism for what lies ahead.
When was the last time you played? When did you last join your child in a play session without taking charge, or leading to your own desired outcome? Can you recall when you last turned a space into a pirate ship, built a fort, became a mythical creature, or transported to a magical and mysterious world? If the answer is “I don’t know” or “It’s been ages” read on to see why play is crucial for us all, but most especially for our children.
According to Peter Gray (2013:141), play is “first and foremost, an expression of freedom. It is what one wants to do as opposed to what one is obliged to do.” Play, by nature, is unrestricted. It is the purest form of self-expression. Children should feel free to play as they wish, without rules being imposed upon them. Play is an intrinsically motivated experience and an innate skill that a child possesses. Research shows that there are actual play circuits in our brains at birth that are just waiting to be activated and neural pathways to be developed (National Institute for Play, 2024).
Society seems to have forgotten the importance of play, specifically free play, rather focusing on structured activities and academic tasks or guiding play to line up with a specific agenda. The thought is often that the more children engage in age or grade-appropriate activities, the more they will learn and the more successful they will be. However, this is not the case. The overwhelming majority of research states that “no matter your age, play is as important to your mental health as food is to your physical health” (NIFP, 2024).
Play is essential to development because it “contributes to the cognitive, physical, social, and emotional well-being of children and youth. Play also offers an ideal opportunity for parents to engage fully with their children (Ginsburg, 2007). Step into your child’s world, connect with them on their terms and where they feel safe and comfortable.
According to the National Institute for Play (2024), play enriches our lives, bringing joy and growth opportunities. The institute reports that incorporating play into our daily routines can have a profound impact. Play nurtures mental well-being, strengthens our connections with others and boosts motivation and optimism for what lies ahead. Without sufficient play, these benefits can diminish, leading to challenges in these crucial areas.
The following table, taken from the National Institute of Play website (2024) highlights the differences between play-filled and play-deprived lives, and how this impacts upon us:
| When Life Is… | Play-Filled | Play-Deprived |
| Trust | Life is experienced as a playground filled with chances to learn | Life is experienced as a proving ground – and often a battleground |
| Flexibility | Change brings exploration and new possibilities | Change creates fear and resistance |
| Optimism | Well-being and pleasure are expected | Discomfort and disappointment are expected |
| Problem-Solving | Problems are acknowledged and often foster skill development | Problems are hidden, denied, or avoided |
| Emotional Regulation | Stress is handled with resilience; the response is most often stability | Stress responses are often anger, rage, or withdrawal caused by low self-efficacy |
| Perseverance | Motivation is sustained from internal drive, mastery is sought | Motivation dissipates, equivocation, procrastination, and apathy arise |
| Empathy | Others’ feelings are recognised; support is often offered | Others’ feelings are not recognised; discord occurs |
| Openness | Life is vital; a strong sense of belonging fosters social cooperation | Life is dull; people become socially withdrawn, often with mild depression |
| Belonging | Behaviours are altruistic, leading to teamwork, community creation, and participation | Behaviours are callous, uncooperative, bullying, and self-centered |
So, how can we do better?
Let’s allow our children to play. Allow yourself to play and be playful. Let’s add more play time, specifically free and exploratory play time into the day or weekly routine. “Free play provides children with the opportunity to work on various developmental areas and skills, such as problem solving, reasoning, creativity, flexible thinking, initiative and grit, self-regulation skills, working memory, sustained focus STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, math) skills and physicality” (Ferreira, 2021:20). Are these not the life skills that assist us daily as adults, leading to success in varied contexts and activities? Let’s play more! For more information, please visit Bellavista school’s website.
Article supplied by Tamara Victor, Occupational Therapist at Bellavista School
