Let's Play! The Importance of Play

Photo Credit: Alexandr Podvalny, Unsplash

When was the last time you truly played—just for the joy of it? For our kids, those moments are becoming rare. Over the past several decades, academic enrichment and adult-organized activities have crowded out free, creative, independent play.

I feel so strongly about this that I’ve written two academic articles on the topic. Here’s what I’ve learned:

Play isn’t just fun—it’s as essential as sleep, water and good nutrition!

The Essential Role of Play in Development

Research shows us that play helps children:

•   Cope with challenges and stress

•   Solve problems

•   Develop creativity and symbolic thinking

• Acquire mathematical and spatial understanding

•   Build narrative and executive functioning skills

•   Gain a sense of mastery and resilience

• Develop a capacity for empathy

• Make meaning out of experience

  
  

And it’s not just for kids. Adults need play, too—it fuels creativity, problem-solving, and well-being.

Yet, our society keeps moving away from play. Schools focus more on academics, homes are filled with screens, and afternoons are packed with structured activities organized by adults. Even young children now have little time for open-ended play.

If we want to raise healthy, creative, and resilient people, it’s time to bring play back to the center of our lives.

Play Memories

I teach a group supervision course for psychology graduate students training to do play therapy with children. What strikes me is how even play therapists-in-training can struggle to trust the magic of play. We’re all so caught up in society’s push to “DO”—to achieve and to show quick, visible results.

So this year, I started our class differently: I asked everyone, including myself, to write about a favorite play memory from childhood. I’m sharing mine here, hoping it expands your sense of what play can offer. I’ll share more on the importance of play in future posts.

My Play Reflection

I’m nine years old, playing Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys with the girl who lives across the street. Our “woods” are really just my front yard, but to us, they’re a wild, mysterious forest.

It’s a crisp autumn day. I remember the cold air, the crunch of leaves underfoot, the earthy smell of wood and dirt. We climb over a small woodpile, pretending it’s a treacherous mountain. My sneakers thud against the logs, and every sound feels like part of our adventure. The world smells like leaves and earth, and the air is sharp and alive. Sunlight filters through the trees, making the shadows deeper and the sense of mystery more real.

We climb that woodpile “mountain” again and again, inventing new obstacles each time. We’re tough, smart, and brave—wild explorers on a secret mission. I love how strong I feel as I scramble over logs and dodge imaginary dangers. My friend and I are partners, solving mysteries together. We take turns leading and following, learning to assert ourselves, but also to listen, compromise, and handle minor frustrations. We feel completely independent, even though our parents are just a stone’s throw away.

Photo Credit: Annie Spratt, Unsplash

The Magic of Play

This memory reminds me of why play matters. Play lets us imagine ourselves as something new—someone we aren’t yet, but could become. It’s how we try on different roles, stretch our limits, and grow. When we play with others, our shared creativity opens up endless possibilities.

Play gives us a break from real life, a chance to process strength and weakness, sadness and joy, fear and confidence, safety and danger. It helps us communicate, make sense of our experiences, and practice being independent and capable—without the real-world risks.

Play isn’t just for kids. It’s a powerful way to learn, connect, and grow at any age. Let’s not lose sight of its magic.

How can you make room for play today?

To Do Now

Take 10 minutes and write out your own play reflection. Think about a time you played as a child. Try to imagine you are there now:

• What do you see and hear?

• Who is with you?

• What are you doing?

• What does it feel like physically and emotionally?

• Is it fun, scary, exciting…? 

• What skills (cognitive, social, physical, emotional) might you be using and/or developing?