Special Issue: Play

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My name is Meghan Kowalski and I'm an outreach librarian working in Washington, DC. Some days I struggle with making content because my brain is tired. I share noteworthy items and idea prompts to, hopefully, help *spark* an idea for your content.

In this special subscriber issue, we’re exploring how you can use play in your content. We’re covering:

• An overview of play

• 43 ideas to try

• Recommended links and resources to explore

Play isn’t just for kids. Play is any activity done for its own sake. It doesn't have a goal, and it doesn't always have rules. Play can be physical or mental, solo or social, structured or completely spontaneous. What makes something play isn't what you're doing - it's how you're doing it. It's the mindset of curiosity, freedom, and low-stakes exploration that makes play what it is.

Somewhere along the way, we got the message that play is something you grow out of. But researchers, educators, and creatives have been making the case for decades that play is one of the most essential things we can do. Play is joyful, accessible, and has a way of making even the most serious subjects feel approachable. Play drives innovation, builds community, strengthens learning, and makes work a whole lot more enjoyable.

Here are some ways you can try using play in your content:

• Post a fill-in-the-blank: “My favorite way to play as an adult is ___”

• Make the case that play is just as important for adults as it is for children

• Fill your toy box