“When you look at evolution, kids didn’t learn sitting in classrooms. They learnt by being out in nature with the adults. They learnt through experience and through play.
Play is essential for healthy brain function and development. The human brain develops through an ongoing process that begins before birth and continues throughout adulthood.
The most important factor is the interaction of the genes with the environment. It’s the environmental experiences that shape the brain, not genes. These experiences affect the genes, from in utero through adulthood. This then affects your memory, focus, perspective, beliefs, thoughts, feelings, choices and outcomes.
The question to ask yourself is:
- What conditions do I need for my optimal brain function and development?
& - How can I provide these environments?
The children who play, being naturally curious, learn anything easily. They want to. That’s their nature. Adults are the same.
When you encourage children and adults to immerse themselves in healthy relationships, lots of play, lots of interactions, lots of spontaneity, lots of creativity, everyone learns and develops skills really well.
And the stand out environment, that supersedes all others, is play!”
Dr Gabor Mate (Canadian physician).
