The Benefits of Adult Play

When adults engage in play, they experience:

• Stress reduction and mental restoration – Play provides a break from achievement-oriented thinking

• Enhanced creativity and problem-solving – Playful exploration activates different neural pathways

• Improved social connection 

– Shared play experiences deepen relationships

• Greater psychological flexibility 

– Play helps us adapt to change and uncertainty

• Reconnection with joy 

– Play reminds us of aspects of ourselves often neglected in adulthood

Finding Your Play Personality

Drawing on research by play psychologist Dr. Stuart Brown, Brown's play personalities include:

• The Explorer – Enjoys discovering new places, ideas, and experiences

• The Storyteller – Finds play through narrative, imagination, and creative expression

• The Competitor – Thrives on games, sports, and playful challenges

• The Director – Loves organizing, planning, and orchestrating experiences

• The Collector – Finds joy in gathering, curating, and arranging

• The Artist/Creator – Expresses playfulness through making and creating

• The Joker – Delights in humor, wit, and making others laugh

• The Kinesthete – Needs physical movement and bodily expression

Self-Active Play for Adults

Self-active play creates an environment where grown-ups can engage in spontaneous, self-directed creative exploration using open-ended materials. Drawing on principles established by Walter Drew, founder of the Institute for Self Active Education, this approach recognizes that meaningful play remains valuable throughout our lifespan.

In self-active play spaces, adults explore materials without predetermined outcomes arranging, constructing, transforming, or combining materials following their own curiosity. The process is valued over the product, creating rare opportunities for unstructured creativity in our achievement-oriented world.

Making Space for Play

Integrating play into adult life doesn't require elaborate planning. It can be as simple as:

• Taking a different route on your daily walk

• Doodling during a phone call

• Playing with materials while thinking through a problem

• Engaging in spontaneous movement or dance

• Trying a new creative medium without judgment

• Playing games with friends or family

• Approaching a familiar task with a playful twist