Puberty is an emotional and physical whirlwind! As parents, guardians, and even as former adolescents ourselves, we recognize that adolescence brings intense physical, chemical, emotional, and lifestyle changes. We notice teenage acne, slammed bedroom doors, mood swings, and flushed faces, but even more profound transformations are unfolding within the adolescent brain. During these years, students spend much of their time confined to classrooms and desks, immersed in academics for eight or more hours a day. While intellectual training is undeniably crucial for their growth, research increasingly highlights that play and physical activity play an equally essential role in shaping young minds. These seemingly simple activities act as powerful catalysts for cognitive development, emotional resilience, and the foundation of a balanced, fulfilling life.
Play is often written off as mere amusement, a childish trifle, a distraction that ought to be shed before the weight of the world settles on one’s shoulders. In fact, play serves as a dynamic force in neural development. Engaging in playful activities triggers the release of neurotransmitters like dopamine, serotonin, and endorphins in the brain. These hormones are crucial for learning, memory, mood regulation, and stress management, and play lets them loose in the brain so that they can do that developmental work. Play also strengthens connections in the prefrontal cortex, the brain’s executive center, where higher-order cognitive functions like problem-solving, decision-making, impulse control, and future planning take place. In a 2018 study in Pediatrics, researchers found that students with more playtime showed superior executive function skills than students with less playtime. More play is almost always a good thing for a developing mind.
Apart from brain development, play almost always brings children in contact with each other, leading to opportunities for social and emotional development. Playtime represents a safe space for risk-taking, experimentation, and emotional expression, all of which facilitate the development of empathy, resilience, and the ability to navigate complex social situations. Role-playing, imaginative play, and games with friends help teenagers learn the skills of collaboration, negotiation, and conflict resolution. Whether it is a game of hide-and-seek or an afternoon of fort-building in the woods, play can help lead children to the skills and capacities that are invaluable to a high-functioning adult.
Abutting and often overlapping with play, physical activity also plays an integral role in brain development. The increase in blood flow to the brain caused by regular exercise delivers oxygen and essential nutrients that fuel cognitive processes. In addition, brains that are exposed to regular exercise produce more brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a protein that promotes the growth and survival of neurons and enhancing learning and memory. A 2022 study in Frontiers in Human Neurosciencefound that adolescents who engaged in regular physical activity had larger hippocampal volumes, a brain region crucial for memory formation.
In addition to expending energy surplus to classroom learning, regular exercise has been shown to reduce stress, anxiety, and depression while boosting self-esteem and mood. Adolescents should engage in at least an hour of physical activity each day for their best chance at optimal health and well-being, according to the CDC. Team sports and group activities not only promote physical fitness but also provide opportunities for social interaction, teamwork, and the development of leadership skills.
A review published in the Children further solidified the link between physical activity and academic achievement in adolescents, demonstrating that regular exercise can improve academic performance and cognitive function. While some of this is intuitive, namely that providing students the opportunity to run off excess energy can allow them to focus more easily, the mechanisms of the individual neurotransmitters add depth and technical insight. This evidence underscores the importance of integrating physical activity into the school curriculum and daily routines.
Instilling a love for play and physical activity in students requires a concerted effort from parents, guardians, educators, and communities. In addition to the already-established norms of physical education and sports, ample opportunities for unstructured play, such as exploring nature or engaging in imaginative activities, help to empower teenagers as they develop creativity, problem-solving skills, and social connections. As we move through our summers, engineering regular opportunities for the children in our lives to get outside and play should be a top priority.
By looking through the lens of brain and social development, the role of play and physical activity as essential catalysts in the development of healthy, happy children and adults comes into focus. These activities nurture cognitive function, enhance mental and emotional well-being, and foster social skills that are vital for success in life. Through the prioritization of play and physical activity, we can empower our teenagers to reach their full potential and build a brighter future for themselves and society as a whole. Let’s create an environment where play and physical activity are celebrated as essential components of a well-rounded education, not an afterthought, as we work to enable our young people to thrive in all aspects of their lives.
About TLC
The Lincoln Center for Family and Youth (TLC) is a social enterprise company serving the Greater Philadelphia Area. Among its five divisions, TLC offers School-based Staffing Solutions, Mobile Coaching and Counseling, and Heather’s Hope: A Center for Victims of Crime. These major programs are united under TLC’s mission to promote positive choices and cultivate meaningful connections through education, counseling, coaching, and consulting.