Animal Assisted Play Therapy presents a comprehensive approach to the inclusion of animals in psychotherapy in general, and play therapy in particular. (Kevin O Connor) A few months ago I was asked to ...

In humans, play is considered to be a sign of happiness and good health, and has long been recognized as an important component of child development. Play continues into adulthood, where it may take ...

I've studied various aspects of play behavior in a wide variety of nonhuman animals (animals) for decades, focusing mostly on members of the "dog family" (canids), while some of my students have ...

We hope our cover story this month brings you as much joy reading it as we have had producing it. The author, behavioral ecologist Caitlin O’Connell, has what sounds like one of the best jobs on Earth ...

In some species, youngsters play to develop skills they’ll need as adults. But in other animals, adults seem to frolic for the fun of it. By C. Claiborne Ray A. Many immature mammals practice hunting ...