Conceptualising and evidencing the impact of play on health and wellbeing
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 4485809 |
|---|---|
| Authors | J H Mckendrick (0000-0002-5683-7251, Glasgow Caledonian University), Tracy Thompson (University of South-Eastern Norway), Stacey Marko (0009-0008-4635-6674, Queen Margaret University) |
| Year | 2025 |
| Volume | 14 |
| Issue | 2 |
| Pages | 115-119 |
| Publication date | 2025-04-03 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | International Journal of Play (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 2159-4937 • E-ISSN: 2159-4953 |
| Publisher | Informa UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1080/21594937.2025.2508644 |
| OpenAlex | W4412028115 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 1 |
| References cited | 9 |
While it is understandable that those who promote and practice play believe in its inherent worth, and assert that it enriches health and bolsters wellbeing, we need more than belief and assertion. Those who promote the role of play in advancing social progressivism need to find effective ways to challenge detractors who dismiss the role of play and who rail against equality, inclusion and diversity. We observe that those who challenge progressivism often hanker for the lost play worlds of yesteryear, which is, paradoxically, also the approach that is taken by many progressives who advocate for the positive contribution of play to young people and children's health and wellbeing (e.g. canvassing for more nature-based play, less technology in play, and more social play). Also shared both by those for and against progressivism, is a drift into an unproductive echo chamber where we speak only to the converted and within which the commonsense of belief holds sway over the rationality of evidence. We argue that making the case that play enriches health and wellbeing must be the result of evidenced impact and persuasive explanations of the mechanisms that result in these outcomes
Cognitive psychology · Sociology · Child Therapy and Development · Children's Rights and Participation · Early Childhood Education and Development · Psychology · Social Psychology
Video game play is positively correlated with well-being
Play and playfulness for health and wellbeing
Objectivity and Diversity
Analyzing factors for an optimum play environment through children’s subjective well-being indicators
A more playful museum
Complex geographies of play provision dis/investment across the UK
Children's play, well-being and involvement
| Unique citing works | 1 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 1 |
| Citation span | 2026 - 2026 (1) |
| Citation velocity | current |
| Highly cited | No |