Spreading the Transforming Power of Improvisation

NY Times Magazine Cover Article: Why Do We Play?

I'm really pumped about this article about the value of play. It's the cover article of my favorite magazine---the NY Times Sunday Magazine: Taking Play Seriously.

I just finished reading it and it explores the question: Is there really an evolutionary or developmental need for play and what is lost when people play less?

The author, Robin Marantz Henig, explores the biological and sociological research on play in animals, children, and adults.

Tags: play, research

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Shana Merlin on December 3, 2009 at 9:26am: Hey Patti-

Glad you liked the article. I ended up reading the whole book this guy wrote. http://www.amazon.com/Play-Shapes-Brain-Imagination-Invigorates/dp/...

It's a great read and I find sometimes I get more out of books that touch on the spirit of improv at an angle, rather than directly addressing it.

Hope you are well down under. I'm in the middle of my improv break (I take December off of teaching) and it's excellent!

Take Care,

Shana; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Patti Stiles on November 25, 2009 at 12:40am: ok...so it has been awhile since I've been on this forum.
and just when I turn my back....wham!
you share this fantastic article!!

Thanks.

Hope you are well.
xo
Patti; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Ann Feehan on September 16, 2008 at 12:59pm: Hey Shana,
you might be interested in this great book:

Playful Parenting (Paperback)
by Lawrence J. Cohen

Cohen is a play psychologist and he has some wonderful insights for the need for play for children as well as lots of examples of games e,g. singing an opera for his daughter about the tragedy of her getting dressed.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Lynne Hunter-Johnston on March 6, 2008 at 10:25am: Also check out "Playing BY Heart" written by the 'founder' of "Original Play" Fred O. Donaldson. I highly recommend taking his workshop too. Fred played with wolves for 7 years as well as many other animals. His stories and articles are remarkable.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Leif Hansen on March 2, 2008 at 3:04pm: Excellent! Connected to this, check out the NY Times piece about Applied Improv, emphasizing Patricia Madson and OYF, I comment on it here...; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Kerstin Gauffin on February 24, 2008 at 2:40am: Hi Shana! I am also very grateful for article above; contents came in perfectly for my workshop with a group of executives who were really skeptic to my "playful" methods concerning leadership and human relations! Thank you! And maybe you would like to be my friend?
Warm regards
Kerstin Gauffin; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Daniel Knutson-Bradac on February 20, 2008 at 3:07pm: Great article! Thank you Shana for this link which leads to all kinds of useful information from the National Institute for Play, the New York Public Library broadcast and American Public Radio's Speaking of Faith Series.

We focus a lot on just getting people to play here in Olympia and are working toward a workshop on "Improvising Age" - accessing play and movement to bring meaning to our aging.

Thanks again for this great resource:

=Daniel; ▶ Reply to This