What Neuroscience Tells Us About Play and Stress Relief
For young children, play isn’t just joyful, it’s essential. Early educators have long known this intuitively, and now neuroscience gives us language to explain why. Play is one of the brain’s most powerful tools for buffering stress, building resilience, and supporting healthy development.
In a world where even preschoolers are experiencing higher levels of stress — from unpredictable routines, overstimulation, or environmental instability — understanding play’s protective power is more important than ever.
How Stress Affects the Young Brain
When children face stress, their bodies release cortisol, the “stress hormone.” Short bursts of cortisol can be adaptive, but prolonged stress can interfere with brain development, especially in the areas responsible for learning, memory, and self-regulation. The good news? The developing brain is also highly responsive to protective factors, and play is one of the strongest.
Play as a Natural Stress Buffer
Unstructured, child-led play activates neural pathways associated with curiosity, exploration, and joy. This lowers cortisol levels and engages the brain’s reward systems. Over time, these repeated experiences help children learn to regulate emotions, adapt to change, and build trust in themselves and others.
Social Play Builds Resilience
Play isn’t just an individual activity, it’s also social. When children negotiate turn-taking, invent stories, or work through conflicts during play, they’re developing critical stress-coping skills. These peer interactions strengthen neural circuits tied to problem solving, emotional regulation, and empathy.
The Educator’s Role: Making Space for Play
When educators protect time for open-ended, joyful play, they’re doing more than supporting learning goals — they’re supporting emotional health and well-being. Simple choices like allowing longer blocks of uninterrupted play or creating calm, inviting play spaces can help children feel safe and secure.
Play Is Protective
Research has shown that children who experience consistent opportunities for joyful, supported play are better able to handle stress and recover from challenges. In this way, play acts like an emotional “buffer,” helping children build the resilience that will carry them into kindergarten and beyond.
Play is far more than a break from learning — it’s a biological safeguard, equipping children with the emotional strength and stress-buffering skills they need to thrive. By making time for play and protecting its place in early childhood classrooms, educators are supporting the healthy development of the whole child.
About the Author
Laureen Reynolds is Highlights Early Learning's Director of Product and a former preschool teacher.