The Science of Play with TJ Matton

Are you ready to rethink everything you think you know about play? Want to learn more about the science of play as a powerful tool for personal growth and well-being?

This week’s guest, TJ Matton, founder and chief play officer of the Playful Revolution, joins me to dive deep into the science and practice of play (especially for those of us for whom "play" may not feel like it comes naturally.

TJ shares her insights as a trauma therapist and play advocate, exploring some foundational science (and neuroscience) about play, including play as a "primal drive" and essential part of learning. This episode is part one in a two part series: today, we lay the foundation of why play is important. In next week's episode, we'll continue our conversation with practical guidance for how to incorporate play into your mindfulness practices (even if you want to run the other direction when I say "play" or "mindfulness").

For complete show notes and transcript, visit http://saralobkovich.com/thinkydoers-pod.

Episode Highlights

• Introduction to TJ Matton: TJ’s background as a trauma therapist and her journey into the world of play.
• The Primal Drive of Play: Understanding play as a biological necessity, akin to hunger or thirst.
• Neurology of Play: How play helps develop new neural pathways and its importance across the lifespan.
• Types and Modes of Play: Exploring different play styles, including solo play, parallel play, and collaborative play.
• Balancing Novelty and Repetition: The delicate balance needed to keep play engaging and beneficial.
• Play and Neurodivergence: How play can be particularly beneficial for neurodivergent individuals.
• Play as a Social Activity: The importance of finding compatible play partners and creating safe play environments.
• Conflict as Play: Viewing conflict as a form of play and its role in building better relationships and systems.

Episode Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Thinkydoers Podcast

00:40 Quick Promo and Upcoming Events

02:10 Exciting Episode with TJ: Play and Mindfulness

03:48 TJ's Background and Passion for Play

06:04 The Importance of Play in Our Lives

09:47 Balancing Novelty and Repetition in Play

17:44 Exploring Different Play Styles

21:19 Play as a Social and Solo Activity

29:06 Play and Vulnerability

34:37 Conclusion and Next Episode Teaser

Common Questions

• What is the primal drive of play?: Play is a biological necessity that helps us learn and develop new neural pathways.
• How does play benefit neurodivergent individuals?: Play can help neurodivergent individuals engage in a way that feels authentic and liberating.
• What are the different types of play?: Play can be solo, parallel, or collaborative, and can involve different styles such as intellectual, kinesthetic, or storytelling play.
• How can play be balanced between novelty and repetition?: Play needs to be novel enough to stay engaging but repetitive enough to allow learning and mastery.

Notable Quotes from TJ Matton

• “Play is a primal drive in the body, regulated the same way as sleep, hunger, and thirst.”
• “Play is how we learn everything neurologically, and that never changes.”
• “Conflict is a form of play and is essential for building better relationships and systems.”
• “Play always starts with choice and is an embodied experience of engagement and enjoyment.”

TJ’s Links and Resources

• Playful Revolution Website
• TJ Matton on LinkedIn

Sara's Links and Resources

• Unblock Your Inner Strategist Community: