The Value of Play... For Adults.

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We hear a lot of messages in the media about the importance of play for children.  As an Early Childhood Educator, in a previous life, I give that a big, HELL YEAH!  Play is the work of children.  Here is a snip of information you will read in terms of why play is important for children:

Play allows children to use their creativity while developing their imagination, dexterity, and physical, cognitive, and emotional strength. Play is important to healthy brain development.46 It is through play that children at a very early age engage and interact in the world around them. Play allows children to create and explore a world they can master, conquering their fears while practicing adult roles, sometimes in conjunction with other children or adult caregivers.714 As they master their world, play helps children develop new competencies that lead to enhanced confidence and the resiliency they will need to face future challenges.7,10,15 Undirected play allows children to learn how to work in groups, to share, to negotiate, to resolve conflicts, and to learn self-advocacy skills.7,10,11,16 - http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/119/1/182

Pretty powerful stuff isn't it?

My question to you is, can you think back to when play stopped being a valued part of your life?  Even as I type this, I am trying to think back to when play was left off my dance card; it was left off and has been off for a very long time.

We get into highschool.  Then go to some post-secondary institution or jump into work directly after.  Perhaps find our significant other or travel the globe in search of ourselves and the world.  Whatever it is, we start to 'become' adults and learn in a more experiential way.  We make a mistake and derive information from that, we blunder at work and adjust our behaviour or conversely we do well and are praised and continue on that path.

Learning becomes about books, life, work and family.  We may have been lucky to hold on to or develop some hobbies along the way but those are seen as a little selfish and not something that has a permanent place for most people.  I realize - I generalize here but you get the point - we stop playing because we fail to see the benefit of play in our adult world.

What stops adults from playing?  Judgment, embarrassment, risk, it requires trust...  and perhaps it just doesn't seem valuable.

Here are some points about why play is so important for EVERYONE:
  1. Play is not anarchy.  Watch children playing at the park, it is organized and the members (for the most part) follow the flow. It forms relationships!
  2. Play has rules.  Without rules the play makes no sense, with rules everyone can part-take and be creative.  
  3. Play is divergent.  Meaning, it goes in many directions and is creative.  It is ever changing but the group will continue to build on it because it is fun and has an energy of its own.  
  4. Play is all about exploration.  If you were to ask a child if they were happy with the end result of their play session I'm sure you would get some very odd looks.  They are entrenched in the process, the exploration of the play.  While play is organized... "I will be the doctor, you have the broken leg and I'll fix it...", it is not edited or focused on the end result.  It is organic and unplanned.
  5. Play allows you to try on roles.  When children role play a possible scenario they are 'trying it on' to see what it could be without risk of having to assume the role in real life.  It also helps them problem solve a scenario in their life and find a solution in a creative way.
  6. Play teaches emotion.  It helps us to get into various emotional states.  "Okay you're the Mom and you're happy I'm back from school...".  Empathy is learned through play.  How many business owners wouldn't love to get in the mindset of their customer?
  7. Play helps form relationships.  Without play we have a missing link for connection.  When we take the risk of being vulnerable with another human being through creativity we feel a stronger bond and where there is trust and friendship, play becomes seamless.
  8. Play allows for mastery.  When we allow ourselves the chance to play with an idea or a skill-set we in turn start on the path of mastery or excellence.
As a YOUR Coach, we play.  Yes coaching is playing in a sense.  It is the time for YOU to focus only on YOU and explore possibilities.  To play with ideas in a safe and supportive environment, where judgment does not exist and what 'could be' is king.  This is your sandbox and the only limitations are the ones you apply to yourself.  It is my job to help you get out of the 'adult' role we fall into and look again at the wonder of what could be and make plans to get there.


When we are allowed to play, we are allowed to be creative, to explore and not be so focused on the end result but in the learning that takes place in the space between.  Play is not only the work of children it is the vital, lost, underappreciated work of adults too.




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