Who Would Have Thought That Playgrounds Were Built for 70YO’s???

Well, perhaps we have simply re-appropriated the local playgrounds for our purposes! As adults, we really lose our sense of playfulness, as life and responsibilities grind us down. I feel like some of us forget what play feels like; we become self-conscious, self-censoring, and are stifled by self-control. But, who cares? Is it even important to retain our sense of play?

Actually, yes!

A playful moment at the Raw Challenge in 2023

Research has shown, that in order to flourish in the post-covid world, a sense of play and playfulness are ways of experiencing life that are motivated by the experience of positive emotions, humor, and engagement in activities that promote relationships and that relate to positive mental health outcomes. Being playful provides essential mental, hormonal, and physical strength outcomes that enable individuals to thrive and make meaning and emotional connections with others in their lives(1).

Playfulness in adults relates to positive psychological functioning, meaning that adults that are inclined towards playfulness are generally more resilient, are more confident, carry a more positive outlook, and maintain more positive relationships(2). Crucially, playfulness can be learned(3).

As you know, our mission at IntoYou is to enhance you’re life’s journey – and an integral way we achieve this is by encouraging play. One of the ways we integrate play is through our Adventure program, particularly our Obstacle Adventures! This program is running right now, and it’s not too late to join (details for the half-program and adventure non-race here).

In this program, we make extensive use of the local playgrounds. We learn climbing and agility skills in a safe and nurturing environment. We learn to be silly, to throw, and crawl, and skip again. Because these skills aren’t just fun, they’re life and brain changing – for the better. Many of our clients participating in this program are in their 60’s and 70’s, and are doing it for the fun factor, but perhaps will also enjoy the knowledge that they’re also staving off dementia, loneliness, and depression through their playgrounds activity as well!

REFERENCES

(1) Lubbers, Kathy & Cadwallader, Jeanne & Lin, Qiyang & Clifford, Christopher & Frazier, Leslie. (2023). Adult Play and Playfulness: A Qualitative Exploration of its Meanings and Importance. The Journal of Play in Adulthood. 5. 10.5920/jpa.1258.

(2) Proyer, R.T., Ruch, W. The virtuousness of adult playfulness: the relation of playfulness with strengths of character. Psych Well-Being 1, 4 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1186/2211-1522-1-4

(3) Siviy SM. A Brain Motivated to Play: Insights into the Neurobiology of Playfulness. Behaviour. 2016;153(6-7):819-844. doi: 10.1163/1568539X-00003349. PMID: 29056751; PMCID: PMC5646690.