"Importance of Being Playful" conference at UC
Stephanie M. Lee, SF Gate, Saturday, May 26, 2012

"Playing, whether doing the Charleston, kicking a soccer ball or even curling up with a good book, is healthy for kids and adults alike. It yields both physical and mental health benefits, say experts such as Stuart Brown, a Carmel Valley psychiatrist and a leading expert in the field of play.

"Play's opposite is not work, but depression," he said.

"There are consequences in adulthood when we don't engage in getting into a state of play," Brown said. "That means we're less flexible, less adaptive, less resilient and poorer stress managers."