In an era filled with demands, obligations, and the sense that we must always be doing something productive, returning to play can be a simple and powerful way to connect. And as we think about Children’s Day, perhaps the best gift is not necessarily something material, but that time spent together that remains forever in memory.
In this column for Para Ti, the Licensed psychologist María Noel Plo, a sexologist and mindfulness instructor, invites us to rethink the place that play occupies in our lives and, especially, in the bond between adults and children. Because playing is not only fun: it is also a way to learn, create, express ourselves and connect with others.
The antidote to the demands of the 21st century: connect by playing
As Children’s Day approaches, I often ask my patients: “Do you remember what your parents gave you three years ago?”. The answer is usually silence. However, when I ask: “Do you remember a day when they played together until your stomach hurt from laughter?”, the answer always comes: a vivid memory, full of emotion.
The power of play: far more than fun
Play is a tool with multiple powers and knows no age limits. One of them is play as a goal in itself: we play to have fun, and that brings us joy, helps us focus on a task for a given moment, to laugh and to share.
But it is also a form of learning and assessment. The effectiveness of play in learning processes has been demonstrated, as it activates natural motivation and the brain’s chemistry. Pleasure and fun release dopamine, which helps to cement memories more strongly.
Additionally, it allows evaluating the knowledge acquired from a more flexible perspective toward error. In this way, error ceases to be associated with the fear of failure and becomes linked to free exploration of new and diverse ways of incorporating information and learning.
On the other hand, play is a very powerful tool for integration. It serves to connect people who do not have a prior relationship, strengthen bonds —between friends, couples, parents and children— and also to psychically integrate concerns, fears, problems, internal tensions and topics that can be difficult to address through words.
Play mode: what happens in our brain
When we play, it’s as if we lower the volume on that part of our brain that is loaded with demands, value judgments, critical thoughts and doubts: the prefrontal cortex. This allows us to form new connections and experiment without fear of making mistakes, giving rise to creativity.
Through play we also move away from the state of alertness and survival, associated with cortisol, to enter a state of joy, fun and pleasure, linked to dopamine.
Additionally, there are four memory systems activated when we play: declarative, episodic, procedural, and emotional. Therefore, the moments we share while playing are stored in our memories for longer and with greater strength.
Why do adults need to reclaim play?
Too often, our culture associates play exclusively with childhood. It is a concept that urgently needs to be deconstructed.
When was the last time you played for the sheer pleasure of it, without a productive objective, just for the joy of the moment? How long has it been since you tried some completely new activity, something you had never tried before and that pushed you out of your comfort zone?
In the 21st century, where problem-solving and adaptability are key, play becomes a fundamental training for our mental health. It is a way to strengthen critical thinking and mental plasticity; a deeply transformative tool that connects us with others and reminds us that that connection is built with simple things: a look, a laugh, a question, a hug.
An invitation to meet
From this premise Portal Encuentro was born, an integrating space that seeks to rescue the essence of play at any age as a mirror: a wise way to connect with our authenticity and a tangible and accessible bridge for the path of personal development. A proposal that demonstrates that the profound can also be fun.
For those who want to put this proposal into practice, Portal Encuentro invites adults and children to participate in “Connect by Playing,” a family workshop designed to share, create and strengthen bonds through play.
Adults and kids: the art of meeting on the same wavelength
In this edition, a special experience is offered: “Connect by Playing.” It is a workshop designed so that adults and children share challenges, create together, and take away far more than a good moment: a tool to keep connecting when they return home.
It is the perfect excuse to give yourself a pause during Children’s Month, set aside obligations and rediscover yourself through laughter and the present moment.
The experience will take place on Sunday, August 23, 2026, from 4:00 to 5:30 p.m., in Palermo, Buenos Aires City, and it is suggested for children aged 6 to 12 years.
An opportunity to take a break, set obligations aside for a while and reconnect from a place as simple as it is powerful: play.
To reserve your spot: 11 5997-2321
Portal Encuentro: @portalencuentro
“Creating experiences that leave footprints in the heart.”
Lic. María Noel Plo
Licensed psychologist, sexologist and mindfulness instructor.
