Learning to Play Again

"Smerling’s system for creating or restoring healthy relationships should appeal to readers interested in childhood development and connecting with their younger selves.” -Library JournalRelationships form the fundamental pillars of our emotional life. Yet, as US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy has declared, we are facing an epidemic of loneliness and isolation that is harming human health and well-being. In our divided society, fraught with high rates of anxiety, the stressors of over-busy personal and work responsibilities, the isolating effects of technology, and more people are struggling to connect. Kindness and empathy are in short supply, and relationships face unprecedented challenges. Yet happy and healthy relationships are more necessary now than ever to help people have a sense of belonging and to live healthy, happy, and fulfilling lives. Drawing on her decades of work as a family therapist and early childhood education specialist, Dr. Kathryn Smerling’s Learning to Play Again offers a blueprint for establishing meaningful connection first at home with loved ones, and then with extended family, friends, and colleagues. From reminding ourselves about the value of “Please” and “Thank you” to learning the joy of parallel play, to building a support system through kindness and empathic communication skills, Dr. Smerling’s new book invites readers to focus on personal attunement and how things like individual self-esteem can lead to greater resilience and success in relationships.