“DOCTOR’S ORDERS”: Make Time to Laugh, the Healing Qualities of Play for All Ages
By: Victoria Mancini, MA, MFA, LCAT-LP
This might not be what you are expecting but this isn’t about “children’s play” but the “sense of play” that is vitale across our lifespan. Humanity used storytelling (another form of play) to recall history, ritual and customs for countless generations. Stories, tales and fables told through word of mouth have created the rich cultures that we attribute with each of our individual heritages. It’s what gives everyone a sense of identity, individuality, belonging and community. From a young age nearly all beings on earth engage in intrinsic play with no instruction or prompting. Kittens and puppies spring spritely into play, while the infant child giggles gleefully at ‘peek-a-boo’ and explores the world around them curiously for years before leaving it behind for responsibility.
There is a noticeable marker after childhood as individuals develop into pre-teens, teenagers, young adults and then adults; slowly moving away from concepts of spontaneity, improvisation, exploration and intuitive creative expression. This distancing from silliness usually starts fairly early for the majority of pre-teens in the United States and increases all the way into adulthood. It is most acceptable and expected to disengage from any inklinge of play or improvisation; usually the mentally is, “Play is just for children”; “It’s not productive or useful”; “It’s immature and irresponsible”.
During my time at Lesley University in Cambridge, MA, where I studied to become a Mental Health Counselor specializing in Expressive Arts Therapies, I did extensive research on the resistance adolescents have towards dance and drama - which are essentially forms of play. It was discovered that teens feel a profound amount of vulnerability and embarrassment during this phase in their life (when their sense of self is just beginning to solidify). Society is urging them to become productive, responsible and mature adults - void of any sense of “fun and games”.
Play isn’t just an activity for children with toys; it can also be put in the same category as improvisation, exploration, experimentation and most simply put - “joy-seeking”. Let’s consider what the world would be like without it. We would be without fictional books, tv series, movies, music, graphic design, interior design, fashion design, fine cuisine and of course sports. But what we often forget is that without experimentation we would have never discovered electricity, technology or the internet. Travel would be extremely limited had the Wright brothers never dared to take flight; or we would have never made it to the moon! The world would be a less colorful and boring place to live in.
On a macrocosmic level, play is essential to the development and expansion of the human race. But it is also extremely beneficial on the personal microcosmic level. From the very beginning curiosity and exploration is fundamental to childhood development. It also continues to help us build upon our communication skills, supports risk taking, innovative and flexible thought processes, drives connection, and relieves stress and tension.
Unfortunately, the word play has gotten a bad rap over the years for adults. It seems ludicrous and ridiculous for adults to engage in play regularly. ‘How on earth would you get anything done?!’ As a clinician who has been using all types of creative exploration with individuals across the lifespan for years and seen the unmistakable benefits, I wonder ‘why do we limit ourselves?’ As if we were to begin play and we would never be able to return to a sense of any responsibility, just completely fall off the deep end. I am a firm believer that we all need breaks in the 9 to 5, 5 day work-week (which often extends longer and longer for many people). Studies have shown that taking breaks recharges and revitalizes, allowing the individual to enter work with more energy, fresh eyes, a greater sense of ease, and more upbeat disposition. How can you incorporate spontaneity and play into your life this summer? Take a moment to find shapes in the clouds, build a sand castle at the beach, frisbee, picnic or simply blow bubbles in the park or maybe try making the recipe you’ve been eyeing, or plant those herbs you’ve been considering. Find a live music venue. Even finding a moment to laugh every day is the first step to inviting “joy-seeking” back into your life. Personally, I’m a huge fan of stand-up comedy specials, and shamelessly a glutton for adorable pet videos on social media. Dare yourself to experiment and essentially play. The beauty is that you can’t get it wrong because it’s not about the product or what anyone else thinks, but instead the process of letting expectations go and letting your heart sing.
