10/23/2025

Why Playing is Good for You, According to Science

Play is a powerful, even essential, tool for healing

At an asylum seeker camp in Reynosa, Mexico, a makeshift school had been set up inside a church to bring some sense of normalcy to families displaced by violence, poverty, or political upheaval. Inside, kids gathered each day for basic lessons and structured play. Among the tools used was Rigamajig Jr.—a hands-on building set designed to foster creativity, learning, and collaboration.

One young boy from Haiti stood out. Though around six or seven years old, he hadn't spoken a word since arriving at the camp. Each day he showed up, but instead of joining the other children, he tucked himself under a table and stayed hidden there until it was time to leave. Then one day, volunteers quietly placed a few pieces of Rigamajig, Jr. just beyond his hiding spot—an unspoken invitation to play. Slowly, he reached out from beneath his safe spot to inspect the pieces. Then he began to build. Within days, he emerged from under the table, assembling structures, sharing pieces with other children—and talking. He was reengaging with the world, one block at a time.

That small moment illustrates something profound: play isn't just a frivolous pastime for children. It's a powerful, even essential, tool for healing.

Please select this link to read the complete article from TIME.