I watched my son-in-law play with my grandchildren, wrestle with my grandchildren. And he, like a truly professional wrestler, filled with feigned fury, holding them all the while lightly, essional wrestler, filled with feigned fury, holding them all the while lightly, keeping them safe in his strong arms, always leaving them room.
"This how I like to play with everything, with everyone. Leaving room. Leaving play between us. Play in the touch, in the reach. Connecting loosely, holding loosely. Because it is the play that we leave between each other, the play between, that the truth of us reveals itself to us. Not in the holding. Not in the letting go. But in the keeping safe.
These suggestions are playful and engaging ways to be empathetic with kids with games like "walk in my shoes" and role playing games. from StartEmpathy.org
"Music, dance, painting and other forms of art have shown to have an incredibly significant and positive effect on both children and adults. Art therapy has been used to awaken the senses of underprivileged children through both the viewing and creating of art.Through their artistic endeavors, they subconsciously associate themselves with their past. The memories come more freely since they are not elicited by direct objects, but indirect thought instead. Due to many past experiences many children begin to develop nervousness, anxiety, sleeping excessive or too little, a lack of verbal, social and language skills. Many times depending on the color within a piece, or may be some other quality of the artwork, different emotions can be evoked by the observer unknowingly. Awakening of the senses through experimentation with the different types of art these children experience an untapped emotional world within themselves and with this association with their own inner being, they are able to show increased abilities in their cognitive, motor and social skills." | via Edudemic
Ron Gutman reviews a raft of studies about smiling, and reveals some surprising results. Did you know your smile can be a predictor of how long you'll live -- and that a simple smile has a measurable effect on your overall well-being?
You can discover new initiatives through comedy, because a lighthearted attitude often brings eureka moments of unexpected inspiration. Even a fake smile can lower your stress! Research shows that with humor the brain increases activity in your anterior cingulated cortex, in preparation for problem solving.
PLAY is the language every child knows and is vital for children’s development.
How about Adults?
Is play just as important for adults as for children?
It is important for adults to incorporate play in their everyday lifestyle, so as to reduce stress and maintain social, emotional and physical well being.
We experience the alternative every time we play together. It doesn't matter what we play. It's in the "playing together" part that the world as it could be, the world as it should be is revealed. ...
We experience it as fun, exciting, memorable. But, because it’s a game, we don’t see it as anything else. There we were, together, sharing community, freedom, health, joy, excellence, actually playing together, and playing particularly well. And five minutes before, we were sharing something else entirely: alienation, isolation, mistrust, anonymity, anxiety.
When we bring a sense of playfulness to any scenario we are creating a potential alternate reality with the power to alter the relational experience, even with ourselves. A bit of humor, from a gentle smile to raw scarcasm, can shift the energy of the room in a moment. Playfulness is healing for parenting, marriage and friendship.
Those of us earning a living by promoting "mental health" (no longer called mental illness) spend a lot of time talking and thinking about wellness. Playing well in our lives bridges the concept of wellness to a whole new level. Thanks Bernard DeKoven!
"Play can be the long-sought bridge back to that deep emotional bond between parent and child. Play, with all its exuberance and delighted togetherness, can ease the stress of parenting. Playful Parenting is a way to enter a child's world, on the child's terms, in order to foster closeness, confidence, and connection." -- Lawrence Cohen, Playful Parenting*
"Children need to play. It's their work. All mammals play; it's their way of learning skills they'll need when they're full-grown, from finding food to getting along with others. It's also the way small humans process their emotions."
Dr. Markham offers great ideas for connecting with kids in a creative and playful way to deepen relational connectedness. Brilliant!
Imagination and fantasy can bring joy to life when utilized in appropriate balance with the gravity of daily life. Many are afraid to use imagination in their lives because of the risk of becoming enveloped in a world that is not based in reality. When creating a life change, this is the most powerful place one can be. If you can’t see the life you want to live, if you can’t smell it, feel it with all your being and taste it’s sweetness on your tongue, it is not achievable.
The brain is divided into two major hemispheres called the right and left hemispheres. The right brain is thought to process information through creative imagery. The left brain is the analytical side that controls verbal and ...
Laughter is a universal language that brings people together. Shared laughter breaks down barriers, builds trust, and creates connection. Laughter has the power to de-escalate conflict and bring about creative and flexible solutions to challenges. When we laugh, dopamine is released and opens up pathways in the brain that help us discover novel solutions. According to Ellen Weber and Jeane Segal, “humor and playful communication strengthen our relationships by triggering positive feelings and fostering emotional connection.
It's hard to laugh and be upset in the same moment. If we find something humorous, we find ourselves to be different. Jennifer has quite eloquently explained exactly how good laughing is for our bodies, minds, hearts and souls. Love it! Amy Fuller PhD
Humor is infectious. The sound of roaring laughter is far more contagious than any cough, sniffle, or sneeze. When laughter is shared, it binds people together and increases happiness and intimacy. Laughter also triggers healthy physical changes in the body. Humor and laughter strengthen your immune system, boost your energy, diminish pain, and protect you from the damaging effects of stress. Best of all, this priceless medicine is fun, free, and easy to use
Why do we like to listen to tunes when we exercise? Psychologist Tom Stafford searches for answers within our brains, not the muscles we are exercising.
For more from Scott Barry Kaufman related to his new book “Ungifted: Intelligence Redefined” see my post Don’t You Have To Be “Gifted and Talented” To Be Creative?
"Laughter and laughing is like a muscle that needs to be moved and flexed and worked out to build up so you can keep using it. It is true that people can lose their sense of humor."
Laughter is the best medicine. This illustration is so realistic...if we could access our sense of humor when we are in the frantic state of feeling like we lost something it would help bring our human brain back online and solve a lot of relationship issues.
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