Why grown-ups should play

Why grown-ups should play

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SALT LAKE CITY — Recent studies have confirmed what many cultures have long known — grown-ups need play as much as children do. Though some people regard play as a waste of time or a distraction from the serious business of adult life, play is actually a vital part of a healthy life.

Dr. Mark Henderson at Weber State University teaches courses on creativity for the Honors Department. His students are required to take a weekly “artist’s date” with themselves. This is a literal playdate, an hour a week spent doing something that has no other value other than fun.

Though many students originally resist this assignment as “a waste of time,” students who do it quickly realize that play is much more than just fun. Play can turn on our creative juices, engage many parts of our brain at once and lead to new connections in understanding and knowledge.

So what does adult play look like? Dr Henderson said that real play is more than just non-work.

“Napping, for instance, is not work but it’s also not play," he said. "Watching TV is not work, but it is also not play. Even something like running is not play if it is done so you can get in better shape. Ulterior motives are not a part of play.”

There are many things that hold us back from playing as adults. In a culture where we expect everything we do to be “productive,” giving yourself permission to play can be hard. Play is about the experience. It has no product you can point to and say “today I accomplished that.” But the real result of play is in your own well-being and mental health. The happiness and stress relief play provides is vital for maintaining a well-balanced life.

Another thing holding many back from embracing the playful life is our belief that adults should only do what they are good at. Dance lessons might be great for kids, but once you reach adulthood all those “childish pastimes” are usually cast aside. “If you’re not going professional, why waste your time?” seems to be the common reasoning.


Napping, for instance, is not work but it's also not play. Watching TV is not work, but it is also not play. Even something like running is not play if it is done so you can get in better shape. Ulterior motives are not a part of play.

–Dr. Mark Henderson, Weber State University


However, many other cultures embrace the idea that play is as important for adults as it is for children. In China, adults gather every morning in parks and parking lots all around the country to dance, sing, exercise and play together with no sense that they are doing anything embarrassing or unusual. The benefits of adult play are recognized and valued.

And this idea seems to be catching on around North America. New York City recently began constructing adult playgrounds that are so popular they are planning many more. A bus stop in Montreal was recently given a makeover when an adult-sized swing set was installed nearby. The installation has been wildly popular. Our bodies know that play is important.

The most obvious chance for play is coming up in only a few days. Halloween offers adults a rare chance for socially-accepted dress up and make-believe and is a great place for new “players” to start. While many adults enthusiastically embrace Halloween’s playfulness, others feel they have outgrown the holiday and don’t don so much as a mask. This year, put on a costume. Start small if you need to, but don’t miss this chance to be a kid again. Even a silly hat can change your perspective and give your week a bit of light-heartedness.

Utah has recently embraced this type of play with the introduction of major comic and fan conventions that offer prime opportunities to make-believe. The first SLC Comic Con had twice as many visitors as organizers had anticipated showing that many Utahns are ready for more fun in their lives.

Dance also provides an excellent opportunity for adults to play. Emily Weaver, director of the Emily Jane Center for Dance in Kaysville, has seen the benefits for adult dancers firsthand.

“[They] let their analytical mind rest and instinctive body lead . . . moving in a way they literally have never moved before. How often do adults get to experience something authentically new? It seems a luxury reserved only for children. Dance can truly allow each time to feel authentically new, if you let it.”

Utah is also home to many adult kickball, ultimate frisbee and dodgeball leagues. Seek out a team and re-learn one of your old childhood favorite games. Check out one of Utah’s Roller Derby Leagues or indoor trampoline parks. From dodgeball and basketball “courts” to regular old fashioned jumping, adults can enjoy hours of nostalgic fun.

Whatever your choice, get out there and find a new way to play this week to benefit your mind, your body, your soul and most importantly, just for the fun of it.


Olivia is a mother, a writer and a compulsive traveler. She blogs about traveling with kids at Aroundtheworldin80diapers.com.

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