Tag You’re It: The Importance of Play for Adults

Growing up play was how we learned and it was the acceptable way of engaging in activities with friends as well as siblings. As we got older the idea of play was left behind and seen as something that is only for children. What if I said that play is extremely important for adults and that engage in play promotes significant positive benefits from childhood all the way through old age? Would your view of play as an adult change if you knew it was good for you?  

How Play Can Transform Adult Life

Many adults who engage in play will do so in socially acceptable ways to include recreational sports leagues, fantasy sports teams, and exercise. It is seen as more acceptable to play when it has another purpose involved rather than play for the sake of play. What if play for the sake of play was the missing piece of adulthood that allows for additional fulfillment in life> So, what are the benefits of play for adults and how can we challenge expectations and engage in play?

Play provides benefits across social, emotional, mental, and physical wellbeing. Adults can improve social skills through play cooperation and communication. There is also the ability to improve emotional health. Through some aspects of play, there is the ability to engage in activities that push limits and require stepping out of your comfort zone. Play allows for the ability to try new things through the realm of the game instead of through “real life.” There is safety in the realm of play when we let our guard down and challenge societal expectations.

The Mental Health Benefits of Play

Play has significant benefits on mental health through the release of hormones like serotonin and dopamine but also through the ability to process life experiences in fun ways. One aspect of play that has shown significant value is through role-playing games. Role-playing games allow for people to be whomever they want or play as extroverts when in reality they are introverts. This ability to practice through games allows for the impact of emotional permeability where what is learned in the game can translate to “real life.” In the realm of playing you can face challenges and adapt while trying new things without the consequences of permanence. 

Alfred Adler was a psychotherapist in the late 1800s to early 1900s. One of his therapeutic practices was to have clients “Act As If.” The idea is that, say if you wanted to be more confident, then you would act similar to someone who you know who is confident for a few minutes a day to build the skill. Role-playing games provide the environment for “acting as if” while having fun and building the social and emotional skills that can lead to improved relationships.

How Adult Play Enhances Everyday Life

The most difficult aspect of play for adults is the image that playing is for children and unacceptable once we reach a certain age. There is a view that those individuals who play as adults, whether video games, role-playing games, or even live action play acting, are different or going against the norm, but it is that difference or against the norm that is providing them benefits that can give them an edge in everyday life. 

When I was a kid Toys R Us had their theme song about not wanting to grow up and being a Toys R Us kid. I can still recite the entire song. Maybe it was this song, or maybe it was more recent years and rediscovering the joy of play that has encouraged the inclusion of play without therapy for the adults that I work with. 

If you are interested in the benefits of play or want to challenge those expectations of society, we will be starting Therapeutic Table Top Role Playing Game groups for adults and adolescents in the coming months where you can explore play in a safe and welcoming environment. Stay tuned for more information.

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