Why Adults Are Playing with Toys

After decades of depending on customers who had to beg their parents for pocket money—and who would eventually grow up—the toy industry has found a savior in “kid-ults.”

My Descent Into Mah-Jongg

The game seems to be everywhere, all at once.

‘Do You Have Any NeeDohs?’ The Squishy Shortage, Explained.

Plus tips for finding a Dohnut, a JellySquish, or any other Needoh you desire.

The most radical act in an age of outrage is to play

In a culture driven by outrage and constant alerts, play may be the simplest way to reclaim focus, resilience, and human connection.

Hanging on to Your Inner Child Might Be the Secret to Health and Happiness

New evidence suggests that adults never outgrow the need for play, but we definitely do forget how to make room for it.

Why Gamification Fails

And why play works

Why did the metaverse die? Because Silicon Valley doesn’t understand the co

To have fun, you have to be okay with the idea of wasting time.

The swing has a universal history of transgression | Aeon Essays

Now associated with childhood fun, the swing has a near-universal history of ritual transgression and transformation

The puzzle of play

The purpose of play — for children, monkeys, rats or meerkats — has proved surprisingly hard to pin down. Scientists continue to toss around ideas.

How Do You Make the Perfect Toy? | The Walrus

Fads come and go, but how to create a toy that stands the test of time is the billion-dollar question

How 10 Classic Toys Were Invented

Ever wonder how Lincoln Logs or Sea Monkeys found their way into 20th-century toy stores? Here are the little-known origins of 10 classic toys.

The mystery of the world's oldest toys

The world's oldest toys date back thousands of years – but determining whether ancient children played with them, and how, remains a mystery archaeologists are piecing together.

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Play May Be a Deeper Part of Human Nature Than We Thought

An animal study brings us closer to understanding our own behavior

10 Tips for Cultivating Creativity, From the Director of the Lifelong Kindergarten Group at MIT

The challenge is not how to “teach creativity” to children, but rather how to create a fertile environment in which their creativity will take root, grow, and flourish.

When Do Kids Start Playing Pretend?

It’s complicated.

Dolls help children create wonderfully vivid and imaginative worlds while also serving as unsettlin

Dolls help children create wonderfully vivid and imaginative worlds, while also serving as unsettling reminders of the abyss

The Hit New Board Game of the Year Comes From a Decidedly Unexpected Source

How a Runaways star turned a thrilling and traumatic era into a very fun new board game.