Play and Playfulness for Public Health and Wellbeing

Book excerpt: There is an increased emphasis on promoting wellbeing, active engagement and preventive measures in healthcare, rather than treating sickness alone. This innovative book follows this trend by making a case for the role of play and playfulness in public health. Drawing on a broad range of research evidence and practice experience, this book looks at the impact of play on brain development, the early years, end-of-life experiences, building good relationships, family life, the healthy workplace, interactions with digital worlds and our surroundings. Discussing the art and science of public health, it explores creative approaches for drawing society's more vulnerable members in as well as for introducing playfulness into the mainstream. Outlining the benefits that play and playfulness can confer on health and wellbeing, this book is an important resource for students, academics and practitioners interested in play, creative approaches to health and wellbeing, and public health.