Playful: How Play Shifts Our Thinking, Inspires Connection, and Sparks Creativity

by Cas Holman

A designer, educator, and play expert calls for adults to add more fun, exploration, and imagination to their lives

We’re all born playful. But when we grow up, we learn to suppress this critical, hardwired instinct and our lives become ruled by “getting things done.”  As world-famous designer Cas Holman explains, this disconnection from our playful selves is hazardous to everything from our emotional wellbeing to our ability to problem solve and innovate. The emerging science of play shows that it sparks joy, wonder, creativity, and insight at any age. It is through play that we shape our identities and continue to evolve at every stage of our lives.

We think we’re making room for play we join a pickup sports game, catch a new movie, or go out to dinner for fun. But here, Holman advocates for a deeper level of “free play” through open-ended, unstructured activities that we become absorbed in with no obvious goal or purpose.  The ways we can play are endless and what recharges us most is unique to each of whether it’s a piece of art we create, an entertaining conversation with a stranger, or an experiment to shake up a task we take for granted. Holman shows us how to adopt a playful mindset and incorporate everyday moments of play into all areas of our lives so that we can destress, recharge, connect with each other, and grow as creative individuals. The power of play can buffer us in bleak times, and it can make our working lives far more fulfilling, helping us explore without fear of failure and consider new ways of thinking.

Playful draws on psychology, history, art, and design thinking to make a powerful case for the vital importance of play for grown-ups in a world obsessed with productivity.   Provocative, wise, and full of spirit, it will inspire you to (re) learn how to play.

Genres: Nonfiction, Self Help, Psychology, Audiobook, Mental Health, Personal Growth, Parenting

288 pages, Hardcover

Published October 21, 2025

Reviews

[Mason Huckabee Bowman]

DNFed. Not sure what I was hoping for but this was kind of a let down. Maybe because I already understand that play is important especially to kids after reading other books? This didn't feel like anything extra interesting.

[Sarah Cupitt · Rating 3 out of 5]

When the real goal is connection or presence, options multiply and performance pressure melts. Keep it simple. Your grown-up building blocks are unstructured time, basic supplies, and blank spaces that beg you to create rather than consume.

Taking play back means caring about process, showing half-finished work without shame, and doing things nobody’s scoring.

At the end of a meeting or a project, replace the question “Was this successful?” with “What did we learn?” or “What part of that process was most engaging?” The only goal is to identify what new questions it opened up, which keeps the process alive.

by “What did we discover?” instead of “Did we hit the target?” the focus shifts from individual performance to shared ownership of the process

notes:
- Think back to the last time you noticed a small urge to do something differently – to skip a step, doodle in a margin, or just tinker. Then came the familiar shutdown: that sense of being watched, the pressure to stay efficient, or the worry that playfulness means you’re being childish.
- people in a light, humorous mood perform much better on hard puzzles, and when you remove pressure to perform or win prizes, creativity flourishes.
- From our teenage years onward, we’re trained to produce, compete, and watch ourselves constantly. Our calendars fill up, screens take over, and our definition of fun shrinks down to almost nothing.
- A practical method to implement this in your daily life is called thinking sideways, drawn from design thinking. It involves breaking things down by what they’re for, not what they’re called
- That’s where we’re headed with the playful mindset – measuring success by how curious you felt or how present you were. Because when you stop grading everything and start noticing genuine engagement, play finally has room to breathe.
- Forget the external rewards. Ask yourself if you enjoyed it or if you learned something. Suddenly, the stakes drop and you’ve got space to mess around. Failure becomes just information.

examples:
- You’re sitting at a quiet airport gate when someone nearby drops their bag on the floor and starts doing yoga stretches. Another passenger glances over, then joins in. Within minutes, two more people wander over, claiming that corner for a quick stretch session before boarding. Nobody made an announcement. Nobody put up a sign. One person just decided that waiting area could become something else – and suddenly everyone saw it differently. That’s what a playful mindset looks like
- The beautiful thing is, there’s no correct way to play – and that’s exactly what makes it work. Give people cardboard boxes and markers instead of instruction manuals, and watch what happens. Status disappears. Everyone starts messing around, building weird things, then suddenly making up stories about what they built. Different ideas coexist without anyone needing to win. And nobody pulls rank – because there’s nothing to be expert at.
- set a timer for creation and ban evaluation until later. Early drafts just need to exist – ugly is fine
- Start by seeing your environment as raw material, not a fixed set. This is how you use the skill of spotting possibility. Look at a stale meeting room, a boring commute, or a tense group, and treat it as a design problem. Your "loose materials" are the things you can control: the seating arrangement, the lighting etc

[Sara · Rating 1 out of 5]

I only finished this book to get to reading goal for the year, otherwise I would have given up a long time ago. Honestly, disappointed because I hear the author on a podcast and she sounded interesting, and so did this book. But this book offered no new insights (mind you I have a background in child development) and honestly it was a little cringy because she put, “play” on other strategies that have been popular and well researched. But putting play on these ideas and terms, she made her thoughts and insights seem new and innovative, and they just weren’t. Not my cup of tea, and would not recommend to anyone with and educational or child development background, because this author does not offer anything that Maria Montessori or those who studied under Reggio Emilia haven’t shared before.

[Ariel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Parts were enjoyable but at times it felt like an underlying ad for her own toys she has invented. 3.5/4

[Eva · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've already felt my mindset begin to shift over the past month. I loved the overall theme, but the book dragged/ felt repetitive at times. It took me a long time to get through this one

fav quotes: "Encountering someone who sees joy when others do not can feel as rare and precious as discovering an especially beautiful shell on the beach"

"Too often we think the only point in pursuing something is to excel at it or get a job doing it. What if the point is in the doing?"

[Jung]

In "Playful: How Play Shifts Our Thinking and Sparks Creativity", Cas Holman explores a truth most adults have forgotten: play is not a childish distraction but a vital human need that fuels creativity, learning, connection, and emotional balance. Many people still feel small urges to doodle, experiment, or approach routine moments differently, yet those impulses are quickly shut down by an internal voice that prioritizes productivity, efficiency, and appearing competent. Holman argues that this inner censor slowly suffocates curiosity and joy, cutting us off from the mental state where innovation and deep satisfaction emerge. The book invites readers to reclaim play not as leisure tacked onto spare time, but as a way of engaging with the world that can reshape how we think, work, and relate to others.

Evidence for the importance of play reaches far back into human history. Archaeologists studying ancient footprints in the sands of Namibia found patterns that revealed children skipping, hopping, and wandering playfully while tending animals. These movements were unnecessary for the task itself, yet the children chose them simply because they felt good. This small discovery captures a powerful idea: play has always been intertwined with daily life, not separated from it. Play, as Holman defines it, is self-chosen, self-directed activity done for its own sake, without external rewards or fixed outcomes. When people engage this way, attention sharpens, experimentation feels safe, and the experience becomes meaningful regardless of results. Measuring success by engagement rather than output opens a doorway into this state.

Neuroscience supports what history suggests. Brains develop differently when play is present. Studies show that animals raised with toys, obstacles, and social interaction grow more adaptable neural connections than those kept in sterile environments. Deprived of play, they seek it with explosive urgency the moment it becomes available. Humans respond the same way. Play supports flow, that absorbed mental state where time dissolves and complex problems suddenly feel manageable. Research shows that people in relaxed, humorous moods perform better on creative challenges, while pressure and rewards actually dampen originality. Beyond cognition, play also strengthens social bonds. It allows people to test roles, practice communication, and explore emotions without serious consequences. Therapists rely on play to surface hidden feelings, reduce anxiety, and help people reframe painful experiences. Laughter lowers stress hormones and increases trust, making play a powerful glue for communities, especially in difficult times.

Despite this, most adults lose access to play early in life. From adolescence onward, society trains people to monitor themselves constantly, chase correct answers, and prioritize efficiency. Schedules fill up, screens dominate attention, and play shrinks into rare, sanctioned moments. This disconnect between an essential human need and adult expectations lies at the heart of burnout and creative stagnation. Reclaiming play begins with shifting how we see ordinary moments. Life stops being a checklist and becomes a field of possibilities for engagement, movement, and connection.

A playful mindset starts with noticing that environments are more flexible than they appear. One person stretching at an airport gate can silently redefine a waiting area, inviting others to join without instructions or permission. This is playful possibility in action: bending unspoken rules and seeing what else a moment could become. Cultivating this mindset means asking new questions about familiar situations and loosening attachment to outcomes. Instead of rushing through tasks, people begin to explore them. This approach mirrors adventure playgrounds, where children are given loose materials rather than fixed equipment. Tires, boards, and ropes invite invention because nothing dictates how they must be used. Adults can apply the same principle by removing small constraints and allowing unstructured time, simple tools, and open spaces to guide action.

Design thinking offers a practical lens for this shift. When people focus on what something is for rather than what it is called, options multiply. A task meant to foster connection can be approached through conversation, drawing, movement, or shared silence. Pressure fades when performance is no longer the goal. Schooling often teaches the opposite, rewarding correct answers and polished results. Relearning play means valuing process, sharing unfinished ideas, and doing things without an audience or scoreboard. Constraints still matter, but only as gentle boundaries that encourage exploration rather than control it.

However, spotting playful opportunities is useless without permission to act. Judgment - both internal and social - is the biggest obstacle. Many adults assume they are being watched and evaluated, so they suppress playful behavior before it begins. Letting go of this self-surveillance changes everything. Play becomes a space where participation matters more than skill, and curiosity outranks competence. There is no right way to play, which levels status differences and invites collaboration. Simple materials and open prompts dissolve hierarchies and encourage collective imagination. To protect this space, people can delay evaluation, set timers that separate creation from critique, and consciously replace dismissive self-talk with curiosity-driven language. These habits make experimentation safer at work and in relationships, unlocking energy that discussion alone often cannot reach.

Redefining success is another crucial shift. In a playful mindset, success is measured by presence, curiosity, and learning rather than external validation. A dance class without fixed choreography or a project without rigid benchmarks allows people to move, explore, and discover without fear of failure. Education models like Anji Play demonstrate how powerful this reframing can be. Children set their own challenges and reflect on what interested them, shifting focus from results to motivation. Adults can adopt the same practice by asking what they learned or what felt engaging, rather than whether something met predefined standards. Teams that use this lens generate more ideas and sustain engagement because discovery becomes the shared goal.

Sustaining play requires intentionally shaping environments to support it. Holman introduces the idea of becoming one’s own playworker: someone who sets the conditions for play to emerge naturally. Like a solar eclipse that draws collective attention without instruction, the right prompt can focus energy and invite participation. This means treating spaces as flexible materials, adjusting lighting, seating, tools, or timing to lower barriers. It also means reducing pressure through low-stakes invitations and playful constraints that make perfection irrelevant. Integrating play into daily routines - commutes, meetings, errands - prevents it from being confined to rare moments of free time.

Being a playworker also involves honoring different play styles. Some people thrive in open-ended exploration, while others need clearer structure to relax into play. Needs change over time, and spaces that once felt inviting can grow stale. Adaptation is part of the process. The practice becomes a simple loop: notice what is needed, try a small experiment, evaluate it by how it felt, and adjust. Over time, this builds confidence in one’s ability to create moments of joy, connection, and renewal.

In conclusion, "Playful: How Play Shifts Our Thinking and Sparks Creativity" argues that reclaiming play is not about escaping responsibility but about meeting life with greater flexibility and humanity. Play fuels imagination, strengthens relationships, and restores energy in a world obsessed with productivity. By learning to see possibilities, release judgment, redefine success, and intentionally create supportive conditions, adults can reintroduce play into everyday life. In doing so, "Playful" offers a path back to curiosity, resilience, and a more connected way of being - one small experiment at a time.

[Grey · Rating 4 out of 5]

tbh I loved this!! a bit heavy/over-detailed on the anecdotes sometimes and I would get lost, but overall enjoyed this and took away a lot from it

[Courtney Hallahan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not what I thought it was going to be, but and enjoyable read. What I got from this book is to follow where our curiosity leads, and to try to look at everyday objects or tasks we do and think about how else they could be used or done. And of course that it is ok to be silly, some times we don't always have to be serious adults.

[Bryan Tanner · Rating 4 out of 5]

BLUF (Bottom Line Up Front)

Playful by Cas Holman reminded me that the very instinct educators and designers study for children — play — is just as critical for adults, creativity, and meaningful work, not just fun for fun’s sake.

Executive Summary

Playful: How Play Shifts Our Thinking, Inspires Connection, and Sparks Creativity by Cas Holman (with Lydia Denworth) makes a compelling, research-informed case that play is not merely a childhood indulgence but a lifelong engine for creativity, connection, well-being, and flexible thinking. Holman blends psychology, design thinking, history, and personal experience to demonstrate how free, unstructured play can help adults destress, innovate, and engage with the world more fully.

Key ideas worth remembering:

• Play isn’t trivial: It’s a vital cognitive and emotional process that adults too often suppress in favor of productivity.

• Free play matters: Open-ended, unstructured play — without goals or external rewards — nurtures joy, resilience, and creative thinking.

• Play shifts mindsets: Releasing judgment and reframing success are central themes for reclaiming a playful life.

Review

As a learning scientist, I’m attuned to how play shapes exploration and cognitive flexibility in childhood. (From a personal perspective, I am convinced that I was my most creative self between the ages of 6 and 9 years old.) Holman’s book gracefully extends that insight into adulthood, inviting us into a conversation I’ve been having internally for years: why do we act as though creativity and curiosity are optional after adolescence? And more importantly, how do we reclaim creativity in our adult lives?

Holman isn’t offering a checklist of games. Instead, she treats play as an attitude — an unmeasured, unscored way of engaging with life that helps us notice patterns, feel joy, and practice failure without fear. That resonates deeply with instructional design principles: learning environments thrive when participants feel safe to experiment and iterate. Holman’s emphasis on unstructured play reminds me of learner-centered design — spaces where goals are emergent, and curiosity has room to breathe.

Where the book excelled for me was in connecting design thinking with lived practice. Holman’s own path — from toy maker to global advocate — enriches her message. Yet, at times, I wished for more concrete strategies for the very professionals Holman’s arguments most directly benefit: educators and designers seeking to embed play into structured environments without diluting its essence.

Still, that tension is part of the book’s power. Play isn’t something you can fully systematize — it must be felt, remembered, and invited. It’s a nudge toward reclaiming a piece of ourselves we too often shelve in adulthood.

If I had to offer a critique, it’s that readers seeking a play “methodology” might find the narrative leaner on step-by-step practice than expected. But perhaps that’s the point: the mindset of play resists rigid frameworks.

I closed the book, reminded that play is not the antithesis of productivity — it’s the soil from which the most joyful, resilient, and innovative moments in life grow.

Similar Reads

Out of Our Minds: Learning to Be Creative by Sir Ken Robinson — a compelling case for why creativity deserves a better place in education and life.

Play by Stuart Brown & Christopher Vaughan — the foundational exploration of why play matters across the lifespan.

The Power of Play by David Elkind — a psychologically grounded argument for play’s developmental significance.

Curious? by Ian Leslie — a reflection on why curiosity changes everything, connecting well with Holman’s themes of exploration.

Authorship Note: This review was co-authored using a time-saving GPT I built to help structure and refine my thoughts.

[Zibby Owens · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book offers an intriguing perspective on the importance of play in fostering creativity, learning, and innovation. By sharing personal stories, creative exercises, and reflections from years of teaching and designing for children (and those young at heart), the author argues that play is not merely a precursor to creativity; it is creativity itself. Play serves as the spark that ignites problem-solving, empathy, and imagination across various fields, from art to engineering.

I like how Holman critiques the systems that suppress creativity—such as standardized testing, profit-driven design, and the adult fear of failure—and presents an alternative approach rooted in trust, exploration, and joy. Her insights are not just relevant for educators or designers; they are applicable to anyone who has lost the ability to see the world with curiosity rather than caution. The message is both simple and powerful: play is not something we outgrow; it is essential for maintaining flexible thinking and keeping our ideas vibrant.

To listen to my interview with the author, go to my podcast at:
https://shows.acast.com/moms-dont-hav...

[Sekar Writes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full review and summary.

One of my biggest regrets in life is that I wasn’t playful enough growing up. Even as a child, I felt too serious, too cautious, too afraid of looking silly. Reading this book felt like someone finally put words to experiences I’ve carried quietly for years. It spoke to both the child I once was and the adult I’ve become.

Cas Holman explores how society builds invisible walls between childhood and adulthood, walls that convince us play is something we must outgrow. I realized how often I’ve let those messages shape my behavior: the constant pressure to be productive, the belief that fun must be earned, the instinct to hide anything that looks “childish.” Holman’s reminder that childhood play develops the emotional and cognitive skills we actually need later in life is what makes this book especially important.

[Alexandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a really special book for always, but particularly right now. The absolute need to find lightness and fun, is critical for our humanity. As a parent, professional, and every day human just doing my best at adulting, I found this to be both brilliant and hilarious, and the antidote to finding a little more of this life that I can enjoy.

[Synthia Salomon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Playful (2025) argues that free, open-ended play is a mindset and daily practice that unlocks creativity, lowers stress, and strengthens connection.

Drawing on psychology, design, and lived examples, it offers practical prompts and environments to help individuals and teams build playful habits at home and at work.

[kate · Rating 2 out of 5]

Loved hearing the author on a podcast, so decided to check out this book. Unfortunately, it was a tough one to get through. A little wordier than necessary and easy to get lost in the examples provided. Biggest takeway for me and helpful reminder: Taking play back means caring about process, showing half-finished work without shame, and doing things nobody’s scoring.

[Joe Hauglie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reflective and yes, insightful, but the author is probably a better speaker and definitely play designer. Good takeaway is the emphasis that keeping a beginner's mindset about tasks and activities helps to both lighten the cognitive load and help open up new perspectives to problems.

[Carolyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Worthwhile analysis and thoughts

[Sun · Rating 4 out of 5]

Play is fun

[kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

solid but nothing earth shattering

[CreativelyRed · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting and a good reminder to make life playful as adults.

[Patty Bommarito · Rating 2 out of 5]

Felt like a bit of a commercial for Rigamajig or whatever Toy she created but some solid points for adults.