Come play! Here's why you should add more play to your life, at any age

When you're dealing with the pressures and responsibilities of everyday life, making room for play is often low on the list of priorities.  

But adding some playfulness to your life has some serious benefits: improved stress management, better relationships, and a boost to your overall well-being. 

On this episode of Now or Never, meet people who are channelling their inner-kid, and discovering the power of play.

Adil Dhalla shows off his closet of unicorn onesies and top hats, to share how dressing up  - and being intentionally playful every day - has completely transformed his life. 

As a young boy, Jon Jon Rivero was always encouraged to play with his terminally ill father. Now he uses that memory to help children living with trauma experience the joys of martial arts, music and dancing. 

A  dwarf, a dark-elf and a paladin step into the Lethbridge Public Library, and discover the magic of role-play - and the joy that comes with finding your community.

We drop into a long-term care home in Burlington, Ontario, where sing-alongs, bingo and "balloon badminton" are powerful tools in taking care of seniors living with dementia.  

Sandra Schmidtke loved playing make-believe as a kid, but it's something she's never done as an adult. Can Trevor bring out the inner pirate in her? ARRRRRR think he can!

David Plamondon is on a mission to make board games more inclusive. So last year, he opened Pe Metawe, a community game space in Edmonton where everyone is welcome to play.

And host Trevor Dineen decides to play a game he hasn't played in over 22 years.. Dodgeball. Turns out, he's not as good at dodging balls as he used to be.

This episode originally aired in November 2021.