The importance of play for promoting health and wellbeing

When was the last time you played? Perhaps you played tag on the beach with your children, or afterwork football, or maybe even you played a life-sized game of Jenga at a company awayday in the summer. What do you recall about the experience? How did you feel afterwards?

Play can mean different things to different people. Some like to be more physically active, others might prefer a more sedentary board game, but play is a fundamental aspect of human development that significantly contributes to promoting health and wellbeing across our lifespan. From the earliest stages of childhood to adulthood, engaging in play activities has far-reaching benefits for physical, mental, and emotional aspects of our life. According to the Mayo Clinic, play supports cognitive development, fostering creativity, and problem-solving skills.

 Play moulds the neural circuits associated with social engagement

For children, play is a primary means of learning about social dynamics, communication, and emotional expression. It moulds the neural circuits associated with social engagement, helping children navigate social environments and build resilience. For adults, play continues to be essential. Whether it is recreational sports, playing in a band or another creative endeavour, engaging in play encourages feelings of safety and social connection. In a society where stressors are prevalent, incorporating play into daily life becomes a valuable tool for maintaining emotional wellbeing and balance.

Often play includes movement, whether running, jumping, dancing, climbing, or engaging in sports. This physical activity is essential for maintaining cardiovascular health, brain function, mobility, and a host of health benefits that are increasingly being identified in new research. We could receive positive these health effects if we were exercising or moving alone, however there is an added benefit when playing—we engage with other people. Social engagement during play promotes the neurochemicals of biological safety and thus nervous system regulation.

If you can recall the last time you engaged in an active playful activity, you might remember feelings of joy, laughter, or enlivenment during the playing and you may have felt good afterwards. This is because in play we stimulate the cranial nerves that tell us we are not in danger. Our social engagement nervous system is activated. This includes the vagus nerve, which you may be familiar with, the nerve that governs our breath, digestion, and breathing. More specifically it involves the ventral vagal complex which includes the nerves that make us smile, laugh, swallow, move our faces, and listen. The stimulation of these social engagement nerves fosters positive social interactions and supports emotional regulation. This can contribute to overall wellbeing and resilience by helping individuals navigate stress and build social bonds.

play serves as a powerful mechanism for stress regulation

Furthermore, play serves as a powerful mechanism for stress regulation. Stressful experiences can trigger the activation of the sympathetic nervous system, leading to fight, flight, or immobilised responses. Acting from defensive states when stressed might be familiar but responding to a situation from anger, irritation, distrust, or shame is not always the most appropriate. However, engaging in play can build nervous system regulation to foster more choice in how we respond to any given situation. It provides a regulated and safe context for experiencing stressors in a controlled environment. This allows the nervous system to learn adaptive responses, reducing the likelihood of overactive stress responses in future situations.

It is apparent that play is crucial for mental health balance. Not only does play serve as a stress-relief mechanism by providing an outlet for releasing tension and pent-up energy, reducing cortisol levels, and promoting relaxation but it also enhances cognitive abilities. When we engage in play, we often enter a state of flow, where we are fully immersed in the activity, leading to increased concentration and focus. Whether a game of catch, a dance session, or a leisurely walk in the park, these playful activities have the power to contribute to overall mental wellbeing.

play is one of the easiest and most pleasant ways to support our physical and mental health

In wellbeing settings, the application of play can be used therapeutically. Play-based interventions can help individuals, including those who have experienced trauma, regulate their autonomic nervous system responses. By gradually exposing individuals to safe and enjoyable play activities, therapists can work to reshape defensive response patterns promoting a sense of safety and connection. This can be applied to everyday situations.

Play can be viewed as a fundamental aspect of the human experience with far-reaching implications for neurophysiology and emotional wellbeing. By activating the neural vagal complex, play fosters feelings of safety, supports social engagement, and contributes to stress regulation. When you think about it, play is one of the easiest and most pleasant ways to support our physical and mental health, contributing to a balanced and healthier lifestyle across our lifespan. What a great excuse to schedule a fun afternoon into your calendar!