Innovation at work
“Play makes us more innovative at work, more solidly bonded to our friends and family, and more light-hearted and productive in our daily routines. At play we both lose ourselves and find ourselves.”
Eberle, S. & Brown, S. (2024). The power of play: Losing and finding ourselves through everyday play.
The National Institute of Play.
Building internal resources
“Joy, then, not only broadens an individual’s momentary thought-action repertoire through the urge to play, but also, over time and as a product of recurrent play, can have the incidental effect of building an individual’s physical, intellectual, and social resources. Importantly, these new resources are durable, and can be drawn on later, long after the instigating experience of joy has subsided.”
Fredrickson, B. L. (2000). Cultivating positive emotions to optimize health and well-being.
Prevention & Treatment, 3(1), Article 1. https://doi.org/10.1037/1522-3736.3.1.31a
Psychological safety
“Through play-based interactions, demographically diverse group members begin to shift out of self-protection with one another and toward co-creating a sense of relation and psychological ease.”
Ubaka, A., Cardador, M. T., & Wayne, S. J. (2024). Relaxing into differences and energizing into differences: How group‐based play enables demographically diverse adults to Co‐create a climate of psychological safety. Journal of Organizational Behavior. https://doi.org/10.1002/job.2821 Comment end
Memorable and meaningful learning
“This research demonstrates the value and importance of play for the sake of fun and joy because it generates relational safety and ignites a valuable learning process that may awaken students’ interest in learning, and vulnerable engagement – all leading to memorable and meaningful learning.”
Forbes, L. (2021). The process of playful learning in higher education: A phenomenological study.
Journal of Teaching and Learning, 15(1), 57–73. https://doi.org/10.22329/jtl.v15i1.6515
Executive functioning
“Play is not frivolous: it enhances brain structure and function and promotes executive function (ie, the process of learning, rather than the content), which allow us to pursue goals and ignore distractions.”
Yogman, M., Garner, A., Hutchinson, J., Hirsh-Pasek, K., & Michnick Golinkoff, R. (2018). The power of play: A pediatric role in enhancing development in young children. Pediatrics: Official Journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics, 142(3). https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2018-2058
Building connections
“As we learn by watching others play, the unique and mighty mirror neuron helps us understand the intention of others with whom we are playing.”
Portnoy, L. (2020). Game on? Brain on!: The surprising relationship between play and gray (matter).
Dave Burgess Consulting, Incorporated.
Play Integration
"Play can transform work. It can bring back excitement and newness to the job. Play helps us deal with difficulties, provides a sense of expansiveness, promotes mastery of craft, and is an essential part of the creative process.”
Brown, S.(2009). Play: How it shapes the brain, opens the imagination, and invigorates the soul. The Penguin Group.
Balance
“Play does not make you a super silly or unprofessional person who lacks substance. Play can help balance out the seriousness of learning and the discipline so we aren’t consumed by it leading to burnout. Play makes you human.”
Forbes, L., & Thomas, D.(Ed) (2022). Professors at play playbook: Real-world techniques from a more playful higher education classroom. ETC Press.
Belonging and connection
“Play is a significant factor in enabling students and staff to feel they belong and have something to offer. Play is also seen as a powerful enabler of connection, in terms of human relationship as well as being important for different subjects, such as management theory.”
James, A. (2022). The value of play in HE: A study. Independent Publication.
Active mindfulness and micro breaks
“I noticed that I was able to step away from my computer and not think about anything else except breathing and flopping. It took my mind off my rough day and didn’t think about anything else. In my mind right now, I feel lighter and more open.”
IU High School Online Student (2024). Practice log and reflection assignment for Kinetic Play 101 course.
