The Neurohumor Notebook: Getting Serious About Playtime
Humor is essential for effective diabetes management. Whether you have Type 1 Diabetes, Type 2 Diabetes, or have been told you're pre-diabetic, you want to have humor in your routine, right along with testing your sugar and your morning workout. Consider your time laughing and playing as much a part of your diabetes management as counting carbs and making sure you have testing supplies. The British Psychological Society recently published an article looking at the way mothers and children play together. Play can accomplish some really important things. It is by playing that we develop our creative imagination and build the ability to solve complex and challenging problems. Additionally, play elevates the spirit and provides a joyful experience, critical for our ongoing emotional stability and well-being. But are all types of play equally beneficial? Does the type of play activity we engage in and the toys we use to play with impact the positive impact play can have in our life? These are the questions researchers Michaela B. Wooldridge and Jennifer Shapka investigated. You can read about their work here. Sometimes Low-Tech Is Best One of the interesting aspects of this study is that there was an observable difference in the way the mothers play with electronic and non-electronic toys. Playtime spent with non-electronic toys tended to be freer and more imaginative, whereas playtime spent with electronic toys spent to be more focused on doing what the toy was designed to do. Researchers think that this may have an impact on children's developing creative imagination and problem solving skills. Another factor to consider is the impact this type of play has on the parents. We all need our creativity, imagination, and sense of joy with the world too! Whether you're playing with the kids, or enjoying yourself on your own, choose low-tech options for at least some of your entertainments. Electronic toys (which includes the phone and video game console!) have their place, but balance is important.
- Learn how to juggle - it's impossible to practice without a smile on your face!
- Sidewalk Chalk: Go outside and spend a few minutes decorating your porch, patio, or sidewalk with colorful illustrations
- Silly Sunglasses and a Fake Mustache: Use costumes and props to change up your appearance just for fun
Learn more about how you can harness the power of play to better manage your diabetes in What's So Funny About Diabetes?: A Creative Approach to Coping with Your Disease.
