LEGOLAND Survey: Why Adults Should Take Time to Play

by Pamela Brill |  View Bio

Pamela Brill

Pamela Brill has over 30 years of experience as a professional journalist and editor. After beginning her publishing career at a monthly computer publication, she was named editor in chief of the now-defunct, Small World magazine, during which she cut her baby teeth in the juvenile products world. Pam then moved on to serve as the senior/managing editor of Playthings magazine, where her knowledge of infant and toddler toys expanded into other playful products. She has since written for numerous B2B and consumer outlets, covering everything from design and renovation, to children’s books and culinary arts. Today, Pam is a contributing editor for three media outlets and pens a monthly column covering the toy/gift industry. She also serves as a college essay consultant for high school seniors, enabling her to guide the next generation of storytellers.

The cloudless sky and warm temperatures are beckoning you outdoors. But with a looming deadline and Zoom calls taking over your weekly calendar, it’s tough to just throw your hands up and ditch all your responsibilities.

But what if you looked at time away from your desk as an opportunity to nourish your creative side, so you could return to the office refreshed and reinvigorated? That could translate to a more productive employee—and greater personal satisfaction to boot. That’s what the thinking was behind a recent survey (conducted by Opinium) on behalf of LEGOLAND New York. After tapping the minds of 100 CEOs across the country, it became clear that kids aren’t the only ones who can benefit from play. For the purpose of this survey, "play" is defined as activities that you enjoy without an agenda in mind.

Here’s what the survey revealed:

• 68% of CEOs think that parents tend to be more creative in the workplace because they play with their kids, and 79% say that play positively impacts innovation and culture in the workplace.


• 66% of CEOs would consider benefits that encourage employees to play more, and 55% would contemplate giving their employees time off to play.


• 81% of CEOs believe that it’s important for their employees to explore various forms of play in their personal lives.


• 94% of CEOs agree that more time to play can help reduce employee burnout.

Perhaps the greatest takeaway from this study is that corporate culture is becoming more aware of the upside of downtime. Not only would you be making a conscious point of setting aside time for you and your family, but you would be indulging your inner child—someone who could jump rope the longest or solve a Rubik’s Cube in record time. (Yes, sometimes we forget that we were once kids, too.)

LEGOLAND’s survey also noted that 45 percent of companies offer specific benefits that promote employee creativity, including workshops, subsidized creative experiences and mental health resources. If you are not aware of your employer’s offerings, consider asking your HR rep about upcoming programs and opportunities in your community.

In the working world, we are often told to lead by example, so that our junior associates can learn from us. Maybe that’s why more than half (53 percent) of the surveyed CEOs reported prioritizing play in their own lives. What better way to show the next generation (some of whom may be young parents themselves) why play still matters than by practicing what we preach?

Something to think about during that next Zoom meeting…

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