“Play is not an escape; it is a cultivation, refinement, and fulfillment of who we are.” 

—Thomas Henricks 

In my time as the Project Coordinator for Primary Project, I have supported schools across the country to bring the enduring power of a strong relationship through play to students who need just a bit extra to thrive in school. In my continued research on the benefits of play to support implementation of Primary Project, I recently discovered a research report published by the National Institute for Play called The Power of Play. The report outlines the latest research into why we play, how we play, and what play does for our overall well-being.  

In short, we play because it satisfies our innate human needs for curiosity, discovery, pleasure, understanding, knowledge, strength, and fulfillment. We play to work out big feelings and release energy. We play because it feels good. Those satisfying feelings lead to healthier, well-balanced lives, whether you are a child or an adult. In fact, the report suggests that play is just as important as sleep to our overall prosperity. Sleep deprivation can lead us to feel sick, depressed, and unable to think. When we are deprived of play, it can also have a detrimental effect on our lives, just as serious as a lack of sleep.  

The research is clear. We need more play in our schools, in our workplaces, in our homes, and in our communities. Primary Project is one solution for bringing play into our world, but we need to do more. It starts with adults remembering how to play so that we can show up for our kids and provide space for them to experience the healing powers of play.  

So, what can you do?  

• Check out pages 20-24 in the report to learn more about the different styles of play and decide which ones feel most beneficial to you. Then go play and record how you feel!  
• Ask yourself these questions about what is playful for you
• Take the “play personality” quiz
• Spend some time observing children as they play (without adult intervention) and notice what types of play they engage in. This will allow you to promote more opportunities for them to experience their preferred play type.

To learn more and read the report, visit the National Institute for Play website: https://nifplay.org/

—Lindsay Dryden

Primary Project Coordinator