All adults and children need to have moments in their life when they are playing:
- Playing sports, music, games, and so on.
- Being playful.
- Having fun.
- Being silly.
- Joking.
- Laughing.
Being serious about things is important to your wellbeing.
It is very important that you can take things seriously (for example, when you are dealing with problems, helping other people who are sad, trying to reach your goals, and so on).
But not being serious about things all the time is also important to your wellbeing.
If you never take a break from serious thoughts and activities, you can become very unhappy. You experience some of your highest peaks of happiness when you laugh. Switching off from serious things helps you to relax and can make you healthier.
Not taking yourself to seriously (being able to laugh at yourself) can also be a good way of increasing your happiness and health. Playing can really help you to learn. It is common for people to learn new skills when they are playing. making learning fun can help you remember things.
Included in your need for play is the need for excitement and surprise.
Things often make you laugh because you are surprised at something. (jokes are often funny because you think you might win a game, for example)
New experiences can be exiting and surprising (meeting new people, going new places, eating new foods, and so on).
Play is important to most people’s wellbeing.
Play is a basic need..