#play

#play

But play is not a reward. It is a biological, psychological, and social need (Brown, 2009; National Institute for Play, n.d.). Across the lifespan, play supports emotional regulation, sensory integration, creativity, connection, and meaning. For autistic and neurodivergent people, play can be one of the most accessible and authentic pathways to well-being when we give permission for it to exist on their terms.

Jane Jacobs was also one of the voices that challenged this predominantly rationalist logic, arguing that truly vibrant streets are those capable of sustaining the diversity of everyday life, its informal exchanges, and the forms of care and natural surveillance that emerge from them. What these authors share is a fundamental insight: streets are not merely infrastructures for circulation, but social ecosystems, shaped by the relationships, uses, and encounters that take place within them.

Who's on the other end of your walkie-talkie?My friend. We're using it to say where we are so we don't get lost or anything. I like the cheetahs on your pajamas. They're jaguars. Do you learn a lot about animals in school? Not that much, but I already know a lot. Just ask me some specific questions and I'll answer. Do you know what the biggest cat is? A tiger!

I mean literal play. The kind that is open-ended, imaginative, and unconcerned with outcomes. In my decades as a play designer and educator, I've watched executives, engineers, and designers from companies like Google, Nike, and Lego light up when they are given permission to play again. Not because they suddenly "learned" to be creative-but because they remembered they already are.

The excitement of summer break reveals how vital play is for children's health; it’s not a luxury but essential for their development and well-being.