By Maxine Roeper Cohen, M.S.
Children have fun while playing. As adults, why not think of ourselves as “grown-up” children and allow ourselves some playtime too? Just as play is vital for children, it is just as important for adults. Research has shown that childlike play can help protect adults from serious diseases such as dementia, heart disease, obesity, and anxiety disorders.
Do you still have your hula hoop? This popular child’s toy from the 1950’s provides a great way to burn up calories. It has regained popularity recently and a study from the American Council on Exercise found that spinning a hula hoop around your hips for 30 minutes increases your heart rate and burns about 210 calories. That’s a great aerobic activity!
Many of our local parks have fitness trails which provide an opportunity for outdoor circuit training. As you walk on the trail, there are stations along the way where you can do exercises to work different parts of your body. If you don’t find such a fitness trail in your neighborhood, try the public library where there are dance, fitness and yoga classes at a very reasonable cost. You might find that moving to music improves your mood, burns calories, and improves flexibility.
Have you noticed the plethora of coloring books for adults? According to a study in Art Therapy Journal, it was found that coloring intricate designs such as mandalas, butterflies, and landscapes can decrease adult anxiety. Many local libraries offer coloring sessions where adults can use colored pencils, crayons, or marking pens in coloring books where they find creative pleasure in a relaxing atmosphere.
Find a partner or bring your family together to play cards or board games. Playing such games stimulates the mind and this might support good cognitive function as well as fight off dementia. Games provide social connections too, and this helps fight depression, especially in older adults. If you find yourself alone, solitaire, soduko, and crossword puzzles also stimulate the brain and provide satisfaction in completing them.
So, the next time your child or grandchild wants to play, join them in fun and play your way to better health!
Maxine Roeper Cohen is a Parent Educator with Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County’s Family Health and Wellness Program. She can be reached at mc333@cornell.edu.