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Play for All Ages

My Communicator | Winter 2025

The Benefits of Intergenerational Recreational Physical Activity

You may be aware that staying active is essential for maintaining your physical health, but did you know it also improves brain function and emotional well-being?

Another benefit: If your family and friends join in your physical activity routine, you can:

• Enhance your social connectedness

• Strengthen bonds with loved ones

• Encourage healthy behaviors

We are hardwired to seek out playful opportunities to have fun with others through physical movement and expression, with the feel-good neurotransmitters endorphin and dopamine being released through activities that combine physical and social elements. Bringing the children, teens, or young adults in your life into play and physical activities provides bonus benefits for everyone.

No matter your current fitness level, increasing your movement and activity engagement through intentional intergenerational play—such as recreational sports—is a great way to reinforce healthy behaviors across the lifespan while having fun.

What is intergenerational play?

We all know what it feels like to get lost in an engaging activity or pastime with those around us—just think of the common phrase, “Time flies when you’re having fun.” But have you ever thought about the impact of play on your own or your loved ones’ health and well-being?

Play is an essential aspect of what it means to be human and is not just about amusement; it is critical for connecting with and learning from those around us. Since the beginning of time, individuals from different generations have joined together in intergenerational play to foster meaningful connections that strengthen families and communities.

Intergenerational play refers to activities and shared experiences that bring together people of different ages, typically within a family or community setting, for the purpose of fun or fulfillment. This might include:

• Completing puzzles or board games

• Playing recreational sports

• Engaging in imaginative play

These intergenerational interactions can amplify the play experience by bringing in novel perspectives and broadening collective knowledge and skill sets. In intergenerational play, there are no right or wrong answers. Everyone involved can reap the physical, emotional, social, and intellectual payoffs of being both a teacher and a learner.

The benefits of physical forms of intergenerational play

While there are many forms of play, one of the most impactful throughout the lifespan is play through physical activity. Physical forms of play involve engaging in activities that mimic the natural movements humans have performed throughout history in creative and purposeful ways and require moving our bodies in ways that strengthen key muscles and support balance. Physical play can include a wide variety of activities ranging from short bursts that increase one’s heart rate (like sprinting, skipping, or jumping) to endurance-building activities (like hiking, swimming, or completing repetitive movements).

Another essential aspect of physical play is that it is collaborative. Whether on the playground or through rough and tumble play, children benefit from physical play with others by developing a critical awareness of social norms while refining their fine and gross motor skills. Teenagers and young adults see improvements in mental health, self-esteem, and confidence, and sense of social connectedness through physical forms of play. As adults, we continue to benefit from cooperative play in team and competitive activities by improving our collective decision-making skills, navigating social requirements, strengthening relationships, and breaking down ageist attitudes and stereotypes. When generations come together through physical play, everyone wins.

In addition to providing social and emotional benefits, intergenerational play through physical activity impacts areas of health that are especially important to consider as we age:

• Brain health: Throughout the lifespan, regular physical activity engagement has been linked to many aspects of brain health, including heightened memory,

faster processing, better concentration and problem solving, and a decrease in the chemicals that are present in several forms of dementia. Engaging in physical activities with others through intergenerational play also boosts brain health by supporting social connectedness, a sense of purpose and meaning, and mental health—all of which have been tied to cognitive function in older adulthood.

• Bone and muscle health: Engaging in intergenerational play through physical activities can support your bone health and reduce the risk of hip fracture. By participating in weight-bearing activities, such as walking, jogging, or climbing stairs, you’re sending signals to your bones that improve their strength and slow down bone loss.

You might also incorporate some muscle-strengthening work (like resistance band or weight exercises) or balance work (like Tai Chi or yoga) for added benefits to your bones and overall physical health. The good news is that no matter what age you start these activities, there will be benefits to your bones; the younger you start, the healthier your bones will be as you age. This means incorporating multiple generations in activities, such as going for a walk, dancing, or trying a new sport, sets everyone up for a healthier future.

Intergenerational play builds lasting memories

Between cell phones and tablets providing constant stimulation, high proportions of jobs that require being tied to Zoom meetings and email, and a virtually limitless number of entertainment options available 24/7 through television and streaming services, it can be challenging for people of all ages to disconnect and get moving.

However, finding ways to play together across generations through recreational sports and physical activities can be a fun opportunity to maintain your health and fitness while strengthening relationships with family members and other loved ones. Engaging in safe physical activities benefits everyone—no matter what age—and builds lasting memories in the process.

Source: National Council on Aging. Read more at ncoa.org.

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