Play is an infants first method of communication, a first language. This starts from the first smiles where baby smiles and then their caregiver smiles back. Another form of infant play is the echoing of sounds or facial expressions that occur.
Play is known to improve overall health and wellbeing in children and in fact in any person or animal. Play also builds the brain from the ground up.
Bruce Perry shares many wonderful facts about the brain. One of his shared key pieces of knowledge is how the brain develops neurosequentially. This means from the bottom to the top. Similar to how a home is built. Rich play experiences allow the brain to develop at each stage to it maximum working capacity.
What is also noticeable from this picture is that there are key areas for each level of the brain/house that service different parts of the working brain. All parts are equally important and need to be nurtured to their full potential. Without healthy, secure attachment relationships, food, water, shelter and play a brain can only develop so far.
Play assists with learning and development across multiple areas of a whole person: social, emotional, cognitive, physical and problem solving. Play is a place where a person can curiously explore things and also allow meaning making to happen.
Play should be fun. Having fun is key if you are not having fun it is not play – so to all the parents out there find things that both you and the children enjoy so that you can have fun playing together.
Play is also about taking risks, experimenting and testing boundaries. This is where we need to be able to set clear and concise healthy limits for children in play. Allowing them some choice and control however communicating where the limit is.
Play has many benefits not only for children, but also for adults.
Play lower’s cortisol, increases dopamine, oxytocin and GABA which increases emotional regulation and feelings of joy, belonging and happiness.
Play causes changes in the prefrontal cortex that helps wire the brains executive control system. This is critical to regulation of emotion, problem solving and being able to make plans.
Play assists with integration of left and right sides of the brain drawing on our strengths of multidimensional application of executive functions.
Play allows neuroplasticity and rewiring of pathways that are needed for integration of executive functioning, management of the self-regulation, and a healthy mindsight or understanding of self.
Play is on the map across the world for adults as a way of increasing productivity at work. Collaborative and playful team work can build connection and reduce adversity in the workplace. There is also some research that is exploring the role of Play Therapy in adults being able to heal childhood wounds and re-work adult thinking patterns. Play in adults can assist with changing reactive parts of the brain during times of stress and improve relational connection with others.
At our practice, we understand that play is not just a frivolous activity but a vital component of psychological health and growth. Whether you are a child navigating the complexities of development or an adult seeking to reconnect with your inner joy and creativity, play offers a pathway to healing and self-discovery.
We invite you to explore the healing power of play with us and experience the profound benefits it can bring to your life.
References and Further Reading:
Brown S, Vaughan C. Play: how it shapes the brain, opens the imagination, and invigorates the soul. Avery/Penguin Group USA; 2009.
Perry B. Seven Slide Series Video: The Human Brain. The Child Trauma Academy; 2013 [cited 27 March 2021]. Available from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uOsgDkeH52o
Siegel D, Bryson T. The Whole-Brain Child: 12 Revolutionary Strategies to Nurture Your Child’s Developing Mind. Brunswick, Victoria: Scribe Publications; 2012.
Ray DC, editor. A Therapist’s Guide to Child Development: The Extraordinarily Normal Years. London: Taylor & Francis Group; 2015.
Gaskill R. Neuroscience Helps Play Therapists Go Low So Children Can Aim High. Play Therapy [Internet] 2019 September. 8-10. Available from https://cdn.ymaws.com/www.a4pt.org/resource/resmgr/magazine_articles/2019-20/Gaskill.pdf
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