Learning how to be Playful!

Can playfulness really be learned? A recent study in the journal Applied Psychology: Health and Well-Being[1] indicates that it can. Why is this important? Well, playfulness is linked to improved sense of well-being, and this could have implications for both children and adults.

At a baseline, people who are playful handle boredom better than the average person. They can make the best of most situations and are generally more curious about the world. The specific study mentioned above showed that playfulness can be simulated, and that participants’ moods improved as a result. This means that even if you are not playful by nature, playful environments or suggestions can encourage you to be more playful!

Integrating playfulness in the day-to-day can improve attitude towards schoolwork or daily tasks and lead to a more positive attitude. The best part? It is ok to get creative about what “playfulness” means for the individual. In a workplace, a ping-pong table or playful weekly activities can be introduced. As a tutor, it can mean exploring ways that playfulness can be included in a tutoring session. Perhaps you could play a simple game of tic-tac-toe during session breaks or choose a puzzle to solve with your student. The possibilities are endless!

Having fun while improving mood and increasing productivity? Sign me up!

[1] René T. Proyer, Fabian Gander, Kay Brauer, Garry Chick. Can Playfulness be Stimulated? A Randomised Placebo‐Controlled Online Playfulness Intervention Study on Effects on Trait Playfulness, Well‐Being, and Depression. Applied Psychology: Health and Well-Being, 2020; DOI: