A pioneer in research on play, Dr Stuart Brown says humour, games, roughhousing, flirtation and fantasy are more than just fun. Plenty of play in childhood makes for happy, smart adults — and keeping it up can make us smarter at any age.

Stuart Brown’s research shows play is not just joyful and energising — it’s deeply involved with human development and intelligence. Through the National Institute for Play, he’s working to better understand its significance.

Watch Dr Brown’s TED Talk below:

Have a look at our Play Workshops for Adults.