Play is generally thought of as an activity for children.

Research suggests that play is a biological drive.

There are several benefits of play for adults.

When we think of play, we think of children. Play is seen as an activity that is reserved for children, a special period when they have the freedom and time to spend on frivolous activities that support their development. And play is important for children — numerous studies have demonstrated the importance of play for children’s cognitive, physical, and social development. It’s a key part of how children learn to explore the world and their own abilities. Animals also play as they are growing and evidence suggests it is critical for development. In juvenile brown bears, for example, higher levels of play predict greater likelihood of survival into adulthood.

This view that play is for children suggests that, suddenly, when we “mature” or turn 18, the need for play disappears. The interesting part about this is that the evidence suggests the need for play does not, in fact, disappear. Adult play is seen in board games, video games, sports, game shows, escape rooms, and so on. But how adults play appears to become increasingly constrained by social........

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