Dr. Stuart Brown is a medical doctor, psychiatrist, clinical researcher, founder of the National institute for Play, and author of the book Play: How It Shapes the Brain, Opens the Imagination, and Invigorates the Soul. From his research on young murderers to animals in the wild, Dr. Brown addresses why he calls play “a public health necessity.”   

Resources:
National Institute for Play 
PlayCore | Stuart’s blog
Play is more than just fun (TedTalk, 2008, 26 mins)
Why is Play Important? (2016)
The Neuroscience of Play (The Aspen Institute, 2015
The Promise of Play- PBS series
“Taking Play Seriously” New York Times Magazine (2008)
Play Doesn’t End with Childhood: Why Adults Need Recess Too (NPR, 2014)
How Does Play Shape Our Environment? (NPR, 2015)
American Journal of Play
International Journal of Play 
Animals at Play, (National Geographic magazine, Dec 1994) 

Stuart’s book recommendations:
PLAY:  How It Shapes the Brain, Opens the Imagination, and Invigorates the Soul.  (Stuart Brown, MD)
Animal Play Behavior (Robert Fagan)
The Ambiguity of Play (Brian Sutton-Smith)
The Playful Classroom (Jed Dearybury + Julie P. Jones)