Play, its philosophy, and practice is front and center of many early childhood websites and blogs. It’s good to see the focus and attention on play which is often quoted as the work of the child. I totally agree, but I’ll go further play is vital to everyone at any age.

We all benefit by taking time to play, to engage in activities we find fun or challenging or rewarding. We all benefit when we expand our experiences and enjoy ourselves. We may even like experimenting with something new or getting messy as we get involved in an activity. Studies have shown that children, not just young children, benefit from daily play time. It improves learning, strengthens the body, encourages social interactions, and feeds the soul. This is equally true for teens, young adults, and adults of all ages. We need play!

Recently, after I attending newborn care training event, I was able to add a few days to my trip to play. These were extraordinary experiences which enriched my life and strengthened me, body and soul. We often save these experiences up for our vacations or our time off, but in truth, we should be looking for ways to incorporate play into our normal routines. Adult play is as wide open as children’s play – exploring the outdoors, taking a class to learn something new and meet others, going on a special adventure, taking time to read a great book or go to a play. Play can be solitary or in companionship with others. Make more time for play in your life because play has no age limits.