These two words make my heart smile. There’s no hidden agenda, no pressure, just one kid asking another (boy or girl!) if they want to imagine together. Take a few minutes and watch your daughter/son/niece/nephew/random kid on the street. Now try not to smile. If you can do this, you have no soul. Just kidding! (kinda….)

See, most can’t help but smile because children are the masters of play. They play with their food, in the bath, and even while doing chores. They are constantly and continually creating, pretending, moving, and manipulating objects in accepted and unconventional ways. But what about us adults? Do we grow up because we stop playing, or do we stop playing because we grow up?

Well, as it turns out, neglecting play has repercussions for our health and well-being. As responsibilities mount with age, playing often gets put on the back burner, or completely forgotten. And, because we live in a society that values progress, purposefulness and achievement, adult play is frequently looked upon as frivolous at best, self-indulgent at worst. Which to me, a true child at heart, is not only ridiculous, but also sad.

Recent (and older!) clinical studies of humans and decades of animal research find that play is quantitatively good for you. According to the National Institute for Play, playing builds creativity, boosts immunity, unearths hidden talents, increases joy, fosters community, combats stress and keeps the mind sharp and nimble.

In addition, a life void of play can have dramatic consequences. Dr. Stuart Brown, clinical psychologist, founder of the National Institute for Play, became interested in the significance of play after researching the play histories of similar men, some of whom became violent criminals. Lack of play, it turns out, proved to be a “stark and dramatic correlation” among those who became violent criminals. Other researchers have been quoted saying that the opposite of play isn’t work–it’s depression.

Are you convinced yet? Good, now lets talk about HOW we get back to playing. Turn to the experts – the children or animals in your life. Watch them, interact with them, be inspired by their commitment to playing.

Adults turn everything into work, kids turn everything into play. Let’s learn something from these, kiddos! Reconnect with your inner kid and strive to bring play into every task, every conversation, every thought. It may seem silly, but I promise you have nothing to lose, just so much to gain.

Another tip: take a walk down memory lane! Review some cherished memories of your childhood. Ask yourself, “what did I enjoy most?” Well, what were some of you favorite PLAYING memories?

I loved playing hopscotch, “witches,” spy, making up dances and playing in the woods.