33: Could Playing Be As Important As School?

Guest: Christopher Vaughan, Co-Author, Play

It’s summer and it’s time to play!  But is play just all fun and games? It turns out even though it may feel purposeless, there are enormous benefits to play. From an evolutionary standpoint, it is, in fact, very purposeful. 

I became incredibly interested in play while my kids were adjusting to online learning. While they dutifully completed their schoolwork, what they really wanted to be doing was playing. I wondered, could it be that they get just as much out of play as they do from formal instruction? I think so! In this episode, we talk with Chris Vaughan, co-author of Play: How It Shapes the Brain, Opens the Imagination, and Invigorates the Soul. 

In this episode we talk about:

• Why play is so important for our development and well being — the skill-building, brain, and happiness benefits

• What we can learn from the animal world about play

• What the 8 play personalities are so that you can see what lights you and your kids up…and do more of it!

Links so you can explore more:

• Chris Vaughan’s book: Play: How It Shapes the Brain, Opens the Imagination, and Invigorates the Soul (Amazon Link)