The last few years have been hard on people of all ages. Most adults understand the impact of the pandemic on their mental health. But how is the stress of a global crisis affecting kids’ mental health?

As the world continues to spin in a COVID-upended reality, virtually every person on the planet has experienced an increase in stress and/or isolation as a result of the last fifteen months. Without healthy ways to abate those negative forces, people experience deterioration in their productivity, emotional or physical wellbeing, mood, and quality of life. While most adults are aware of that reality, what is not as commonly known is that a simple but powerful antidote exists that doesn’t require medication, doctor’s visits, therapy, or expensive interventions: Play.