The nostalgia, stress relief, social interaction, creativity and imagination, and sense of playfulness that comes with playing with toys and games are just some of the reasons why adults continue to enjoy playing like kids.
The research shows that many of the adults and young teens who played with toys had a much better mental health which helped them reduce and combat stress compared to many adults who didn't entertain themselves other than using social media and watching forms of entertainment such as TV shows and movies.
Stimulate the mind and boost creativity.
You'll learn a new task better when it's fun and you're in a relaxed and playful mood. Play can also stimulate your imagination, helping you adapt and solve problems.
People buying items for their own enjoyment is certainly not a bad thing. If I want a children's toy for myself for whatever reason, I buy it and don't care what others think.
Play for adults is critical in our stressful go-go-go lives. Play has been shown to release endorphins, improve brain functionality, and stimulate creativity. And it can even help to keep us young and feeling energetic. Studies show that play improves memory and stimulates the growth of the cerebral cortex.
Children benefit from playing with enthusiastic adults who show interest in talking with them. By playing amongst a group of children, adults are able to encourage them to express their views and thoughts, to value each other's opinions and to show respect.
It's good for your stress levels.
Play can trigger the release of endorphins, the body's natural feel-good chemicals. These promote an overall sense of wellbeing and can temporarily relieve pain.
"As a society, we tend to picture children sleeping with soft toys, blankets and other comforting items, but rarely consider that as adults, many of us still use comfort objects as part of our sleeping rituals," Lee said. "These comfort objects can help us to soothe ourselves if we are feeling anxious.
New survey results reveal one in five adults still own their childhood teddies, while 9% of us choose to sleep with a soft toy at night. Cuddly toys and security blankets are just two of the most common comfort objects (also known as loveys) many of us have as children.
For some, their stuffed animal represents a connection to their childhood and the memories associated with it. As adults, they may still have their beloved toy and cherish it as a reminder of simpler times. It can be a source of comfort and a way to connect with their inner child.
Symptoms of separation, dissociation, and disorganized attachment, can start from childhood that's why having a stuffed toy can work miracles to reduce the impact or onslaught of these mental ailments. It gives a sense of security, offers assistance, and rebuilds impaired attachment bonds.
Toys help to facilitate this, allowing children to release stress and use their creativity while developing their emotional skills and social skills. Playing with toys provides opportunities for children to learn and practice different cognitive abilities, such as problem solving, communication, and self-expression.
An adult might use sensory items to help regulate their emotions at home, at work or on the go, and they can help with anything from calming to improving focus or developing motor skills.
Preferring toys and objects that are traditionally associated with a different gender does not necessarily have anything to do with gender identity or sexual orientation. Your son may be more sensitive and nurturing than his male peers. There are girls his age who prefer some of the more traditionally male toys.
"Usually, adults grow past needing those same sources of comfort," she says, "but in times of extreme stress or emotional despair, it is quite normal for an adult to revert to childhood sources of self-soothing and comfort to relieve anxiety and pain." Basically, they serve a similar function for you as an adult as ...
But they may still sleep with that object for much longer. Many kids will stop sleeping with their plushies by 10-year-old. No matter how long it takes the behavior is normal and is simply a token that your child uses to reassure himself everything is ok with the world.
Being able to build secure emotional attachments can help people live richer, happier lives. According to Dr. Aniko Dunn, stuffed animals are “... recommended in psychotherapy and for people suffering from PTSD, bipolar and other mental disorders.” What an incredible gift!
Don't worry—it isn't weird for adults to sleep with stuffed animals. Sleep experts say it's normal and fine to cuddle up with a teddy bear.
It is a matter that a stuffed animal obsession is not wrong as it has helped many individuals fight their loneliness, anxieties, and low self-esteem lately. Psychologists also believe that stuffed animals for adults indicate a sense of homely feeling, and snuggling up with a plush toy can be healing.
If a child still wants to play with toys as they move into adolescence, it is totally normal and to be celebrated! Unless a child's play is affecting or replacing real-life friendships, there is no need to worry. In fact, we need to be more concerned about older kids who don't play.
It may be mildly sexual, or very sexual. Within dominant/submissive relationships, ageplay can enhance power dynamics, and allow a partner to feel more comfortable with their dominance or submission. Often, ssissification of boys is present, in order to add another level of power to the situation.
According to research by Dr. Stuart Brown, there are eight different types of play personalities: the joker, the kinesthete, the explorer, the competitor, the director, the collector, the artist/creator, and the storyteller.
Over the course of his research on this, Jensen Arnett has zeroed in on what he calls “the Big Three” criteria for becoming an adult, the things people rank as what they most need to be a grown-up: taking responsibility for yourself, making independent decisions, and becoming financially independent.
Children, like grown-ups, become fond of people with whom they share lots of time, such as teachers, coaches or counselors. In some cases, troubled teens develop crushes on adults who provide them counsel, comfort, compassion.