Playing isn’t just for children. It’s actually one of the purest expressions of our humanity. Through play, children discover the world, learn to relate, get to know themselves, navigate frustration, and celebrate. And if we, as adults, kept that playful spark alive, wonder would become a constant in our lives.
From the very first months of life, play is a child’s natural way to explore. They touch, try, repeat. Everything is new, and every object is an opportunity to understand how the world works. This is what Jean Piaget called “functional play” during early cognitive development stages: a way to experience before understanding.
When a girl pretends to cook with pebbles or a boy turns a stick into a sword, they’re not just imagining — they’re integrating knowledge, roles, emotions, and relationships. They learn without even realizing it. And that’s the magic of play: it teaches without imposing, transforms without forcing.
Neuroscience has shown that play directly affects brain development. Research by psychiatrist Stuart Brown, founder of the National Institute for Play, shows that play isn’t a luxury — it’s a biological necessity. Playing stimulates the production of dopamine, oxytocin, and other key chemicals for learning, empathy, and emotional well-being.
In addition, studies by Dr. Sergio Pellis at the University of Lethbridge (Canada) indicate that free play activates the prefrontal cortex — the part of the brain responsible for decision-making, emotional regulation, and problem-solving. In other words, play literally builds the mental structures we need for adulthood.
What if, as adults, we allowed ourselves to play more? To dance without a reason, make up silly stories, run just for the joy of it, or explore with no goal in mind?
The answer isn’t just poetic — it’s scientific. Play in adulthood reduces stress, boosts creativity, and strengthens relationships. But most importantly, it brings back our sense of wonder — that fresh perspective we admire so much when a child discovers a ladybug for the first time.
In our Moments courses — such as “Our Own Body is the Best Toy” or “Conscious Me” — we advocate that play isn’t just another activity; it’s a way of being. Play opens the door to the present moment, to connection, to authentic emotion. It allows us to connect with ourselves and with those around us.
An adult who plays is better prepared to support children. They understand the language of play, they’re not afraid of not knowing everything, and they can laugh, struggle, and learn alongside a child — without the pressure of always having to lead.
In our playful spaces — from story-based workshops to shared breathing games — we come back again and again to this central idea: play is relationship, and in relationship lies transformation.
Let’s imagine a world where playtime is protected, where connection through play is prioritized, and where the value of play is recognized as a path to learning and healing. That’s the world we dream of and build at Moments — one story, one breath, one game at a time.
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