Name: Play is more than just fun
Uploaded: 2009-03-12T01:00:00Z
Duration: 26 min 20 s
Description: A pioneer in research on play, Dr. Stuart Brown says humor, games, roughhousing, flirtation and fantasy are more than just fun. Plenty of play in childhood makes for happy, smart adults -- and keeping it up can make us smarter at any age.

A pioneer in research on play, Dr. Stuart Brown says humor, games, roughhousing, flirtation and fantasy are more than just fun. Plenty of play in childhood makes for happy, smart adults -- and keeping it up can make us smarter at any age.

Stuart Brown: Play is more than just fun

Play is more than just fun

Neoteny, the retention of youthful qualities into adulthood, underscores humans' unique adaptability and capacity for play.

Play transcends mere entertainment, shaping cognitive, social, and emotional well-being from childhood through adulthood.

Evidence links play deprivation to severe consequences for both animals and humans, suggesting play's critical role in survival.