Play

What is the purpose of play? As a sociologist, I would have to say that play serves several purposes. It is part of the socialization process. Through play children learn some of the rules of society--taking turns and sharing, for instance. We also know that humans need social interaction in order to thrive. In Introduction to Sociology I usually assign a classic reading about feral children, those who have been raised with little or no human interaction. Most are unable to ever fully gain the skills lost by those early years of deprivation. We certainly saw examples of that in children raised (warehoused?) in Eastern European orphanages. Play is one way to have social interaction.

But what about for adults? What purpose does purposeless activity serve? I listened to an interesting program about play on Speaking of Faith, an NPR program, over the weekend. It was a rebroadcast, but the point is timeless. Play "enriches us and nourishes human spirit and character," argues Stuart Brown, director of the International Institute of Play. (how's that for irony, your job is to study play!)

Play creates trust and empathy, helps us deal with stress and solve problems. What a good drug. Play doesn't have to be social, however, it can be solitary, like reading a book or listening to music. Still, I think the social aspect of play must add a dimension that further enriches. So, go play.