The National Institute For Play

The National Institute for Play is a 501(c)(3) that supports play as a public health imperative. Like sleep, dreams, and nutrition, play is critical to our health and well-being. Research demonstrates that play improves our brain function, learning, creativity, and emotional resilience, while major play deprivation can have unhealthy consequences at any age. The NIFP recognizes, supports, and promotes the science of play. NIFP is a resource for science-based play information and a home for play researchers, practitioners, companies, foundations, and the general public. Although play has clear and necessary benefits, play deprivation is considered a public health crisis that is vital to address. We intend to expand our reach and impact, further bringing the importance of play into public consciousness, particularly within educational realms. In our view, doing so will help mitigate or solve numerous challenges within our society because a society cannot be well if its people are not well.