As I intently watched and listened to these three TED talks, relative to the importance of “play” in our lives, I realized how I am incorporating play into my life to a lesser degree as I get older.
This is a concern to me because I know that play is a catalyst leading to creativity and it is creativity that helps us to solve the many problems, or as I like to say opportunities, that come into our lives every day.
“Play” also has a number of other benefits that are important to our health and well-being as is discussed in the TED talks below.
Featured Videos on the Importance of Play in our Lives
The first video lecture, by Dr. Stuart Brown, is probably the most important to watch if you don’t have the time or inclination to view all three presentations on the importance of play in our lives. It runs approximately 26 minutes. Dr. Brown, a pioneer in research on play, says, “… humor, games, roughhousing, flirtation, and fantasy are more than just fun. Plenty of play in childhood makes for happy, smart adults–and keeping it up can make us smarter at any age.”
The second lecture is given by Steve Keil. In this lecture, Steve discusses the “serious meme” that has infected his homeland of Bulgaria. He discusses the importance of a return to play to revitalize education, the economy, and society in general there. Steve stresses the message for all people everywhere that play is an important function of a normal and healthy life. This video runs approximately 18 minutes.
The third video on the importance of play is presented by Tim Brown a designer. Tim contends that there is a powerful relationship between creative thinking and play. This video runs approximately 28 minutes.
Works Cited
Videos – Stuart Brown: Play is more than fun. (2009, March 12). Retrieved June 15, 2016, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HHwXlcHcTHc; A Play Manifesto: Steve Keil at TEDxBG. (2011, January 18). Retrieved June 15, 2016, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6SZFY47aIog; Tim Brown: Tales of creativity and play. (2008, November 10). Retrieved June 15, 2016, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjwUn-aA0VY.
