Museum of Ice Cream

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This is how playtime changes your brain

All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy - and it’s a lot more detrimental to Jack’s health than you think. These are three reasons why recess was actually super important!

Remember the days of recess and playing with wild abandon? As adults, we often forget the importance of play in our lives. But the truth is, playtime isn’t just for kids – it’s a critical component of our mental, physical, and emotional well-being.

At the core of playtime is the opportunity to have fun, and research shows that having fun is essential for our health. When we engage in play, our brains release hormones that have tangible benefits for our overall well-being. For example:

  • Dopamine, which is associated with pleasure and reward, is released when we experience something enjoyable like play. This creates a healthy sense of satisfaction and gratitude.
  • Cortisol, while often associated with stress, actually helps to regulate stress and improve cognitive function at moderate levels.
  • Oxytocin and endorphins, both of which are associated with social bonding, trust, and pain reduction, are also released during play.

Apart from these chemical benefits, playtime is absolutely critical for our cognitive, social, and physical development. In kids, playtime helps develop problem-solving skills, empathy, and resilience – all of which are essential for healthy social and emotional development. For adults and the elderly, engaging in physical activities like sports, tai chi, or dancing can help maintain motor skills and reduce the risk of age-related decline.

In today’s busy world, it can be difficult to make time for play. But the benefits of playtime are too important to ignore. That’s why we created the Museum of Ice Cream – a place where you can let loose, have fun, and recharge your batteries. Our experiences are designed to help you tap into your playful side, and with our flexible booking policies, you can easily schedule a time that works for you. Try coming down to relive the fun of recess with us – you might just need it!

Sharing isn’t just caring – it’s in your genes!

Kindness and generosity are universal virtues, and it’s the core of what it means to share the love with the people in our lives! We’re celebrating the wonderful ways we share our love for others this month, so let’s take a look at how our brains might have a bigger part to play in our natural tendency to share.

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