Play shapes the brain, opens the imagination

It does a body good. Play works in good times, says psychiatrist Stuart Brown, and it works even better in bad times, such as during an economic downturn.

In his book, Play: How It Shapes the Brain, Opens the Imagination and Invigorates the Soul, Brown says that we should have a regular time to play.

Without it, life can become rigid or without joy and sustained pleasure. Here are eight types of play:

Joking around. It starts when a parent acts silly with an infant and continues with lighthearted interactions with others throughout life.

Moving. Movement creates fun. It includes dancing, swimming, walking, playing ball and exercising.

Exploring. It’s play for those who like new places, state fairs and museums, or who explore feelings through music.

Competing. Whether it’s for a high score in a video game, a fantasy football team, playing a board game or being an avid sports fan, it’s fun.

Directing. For these master arrangers, planning a party or a vacation is play at its best.

Collecting. Avid collectors lose themselves in the quest for a new item or in calculating what they might find next and searching for it.

Storytelling. Imagination rules as storytellers make videos or create cooking shows in their kitchens, says Brown. Reading and watching movies are grouped into this category.

Creating art. Whether it’s painting a picture or decorating the living room, creativity is involved. Some people get creative by fixing things or taking them apart to see how they work.

Regularly scheduled fun is important because you can look forward to it. Card night, the Saturday tennis game, bowling league, or date night, for example, are good forms of play.