Imagine 800 Therapists Learning How to Jump for Joy

Linda Andron-Ostrow, Executive Director 

I spent a really incredible weekend with 800 therapists learning the importance of play creativity and mindfulness for the brain. We threw beach balls around the room and blew imaginary bubbles. We learned how to listen to each others sentences so that we could start a new sentence with the last letter of the last word. And we learned how to jump for joy.  

I realized how little time we make in our own lives for play (I don’t mean Candy Crush). This really came home to me in terms of our work with families, children and adults on the autism spectrum and those with anxiety. Individuals and family members are constantly telling me about the stress that they live under every day; they just keep going until the clock runs out, and there is so little time left over for themselves.

Now there’s enough brain research out there that we know that play is so critical. It has often been said that play is children’s work. But it equally should be all of ours as adults. So I encouage you, when your days seem long and weary, stop what you are doing and play! Chase your children around the house and play tag, even if it’s just for a few minutes. Sometime this next month stop and laugh with your partner… and don’t forget to jump for joy at each and every tiny moment.