Do you find yourself wanting more out of life? Its time to bring play to your every day

Play is not just for kids! There are many reasons we need play in our lives.The Playful Lifeshows you why and how to bring more playfulness to all aspects of your life. Youll explore how to create meaningful, relevant, and fun experiences for yourself and others through both a playful mindset and playful behaviors. Through research and 20+ years of teaching children and adults, authors Dr. Julie Jones and Jed Dearybury have found that play is not only fun, its essential to a full life. In this book, they share their knowledge and inspire you to reflect on the need for connection and joy for healthy living through play.

This book will equip you with new definitions, ideas, and ways of thinking about play for your daily life. With a relaxed tone, comical banter, and real talk, the authors encourage new understandings about what play is and empower you to make more playful choices. If you strive to find balance, overcome stress, and enjoy each day through playThe Playful Lifeis a must read for your life journey!Learn what play means and why its so essential to our everyday livesat every ageDiscover the incredible benefits of play to your physical and mental healthGet ideas for incorporating play into your everyday life at work, at home, or when youre out and aboutBegin healing past traumas and grow into the person you are meant to bethrough play and playful living!

Building on the popular bookThe Playful Classroom, this is a new and exciting take on what play does for all of us-- physically, socially, emotionally, and cognitively.

Dr. JULIE P. JONES, PhD, is the Director for Teacher Education in Converse Universitys School of Education and Graduate Studies. In addition toThe Playful Classroom (2020), she maintains an active research agenda with interests including instructional technology and pedagogy, always with a mix of creativity and play. Follow her on Twitter @JuliePJones, and view her full curriculum vitae at www.juliepjones.com.

JED DEARYBURY began his EDU career in 2001. He was featured inGQmagazine as Male Leader of the Year, met President Obama as the SC honoree of the Presidential Award for Excellence in Math and Science Teaching, and was a finalist for SC Teacher of the Year. In 2015, he began leading professional development and teaching in higher education. His previous books includeThe Playful Classroom(2020) andThe Courageous Classroom (2021).

Hey YAll xiii

Foreword xv

About the Authors xvii

Acknowledgments xix

Section One Meaning

1 Wanna Play? 3

2 Defining Play 11

3 Play as a Behavior 15

4 Play as a Mindset 19

5 Cultivating a Playful Mindset 31

Play& Ponder 41

Section Two Memory

6 Things We Learned from Playing 47

7 Cognitive Benefits of Play 51

8 Social Emotional Benefits of Play 56

9 Physical Benefits of Play 62

10 Play Personalities 65

Play& Ponder 77

Section Three Mind

11 Biological Predilection 81

12 This Is Your Brain. This Is Your Brain on Play 89

13 The Default Mode Network and Flow 96

14 Playful Habits 104

15 Play as Healing 115

Play& Ponder 127

Section Four Mistakes

16 Low-Risk/High-Risk Play 133

17 The Learning and Growth Process (RISK) 139

18 Mistakes and Fear 142

19 Excuses Are Mistakes 148

20 A Path to Eliminating Excuses 152

Play& Ponder 161

Section Five Movement

21 When Play Is Missing 165

22 Start with Yourself 169

23 Grow and Play with Friends 175

24 Play in Our Communities 180

25 You Dont Have to Run a Marathon 183

26 Advocating Through Play 190

Play& Ponder 197

Section Six Mojo

27 Ned Barrett 201

28 Tashma Glymph 204

29 Sonia Aleman 208

30 Joan Wheatley 211

31 Marjorie Boafo Appiah 214

32 Tina Arenas 218

33 Matt Leung 222

34 Balance 225

Play& Ponder 233

Section Seven Map

35 Play Alone 237

36 Play with Friends or Family 248

37 Play with Strangers 258

38 Play as a Community 270

Play& Ponder 279

Southernisms and Their Meanings 281

References 285

Index 291