This document is a paper about the importance of play throughout life. It discusses how play helps with development, finding happiness and purpose, and maintaining social connections. It provides definitions of play from researchers, describing it as spontaneous, intrinsically pleasurable activity without visible goals. The document also discusses the "play state", an altered state of consciousness where one loses sense of time and self while fully engaged. Finally, it argues that play is necessary for humans as our natural desire is for happiness, and play is what makes us happy.

1. DeMasi
Gail DeMasi
Professor Nancy McGartland
College Writing II
April 15, 2012
Playing for Life
His name was Max Roeder Roeder Max. I remember the day he drowned under a small
bridge over an even smaller stream. I do not think he drowned because I did not need him
anymore. I think he drowned because I realized there was not a place for him in the world I was
growing into, my life as an eight year old. There was room for Max Roeder in my life, but not
room for him in the world of growing up and grownups. I knew enough to realize he could not
come. I did not know enough to know he was my imaginary playmate. It would be years before I
understood Max Roeder‟s role in my life.
Paradoxical? It is. To have an imaginary playmate, even to witness his death, and not
realize fully that he was imaginary, is a bit of a paradox. However, play is paradoxical. On the
one hand, it seems to have a purpose: to help children learn and develop. On the other hand, it
seems by virtue of itself to have no purpose: play is spontaneous, freely entered into, and creates
a life of its own.
I would like to take you into this play paradox in the pages of this paper. I want to “bring
out the kid” in you and guide, you, to the realization that we are made to play. All of us, whether
young or old, wealthy or poor, educated or uneducated, we are all made to play. Play throughout
adulthood is necessary to develop life skills, to find happiness and purpose, and to improve our
social networks, from family to work to community.

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What is Play?
“No behavioral concept has proven more ill-defined, elusive, controversial, and even
unfashionable.” (Burghardt 15)
Having read many journal articles and books over the past few weeks it is clear there is
no definition for play, at least one which the emergent play scientists can agree upon. Stuart
Brown, a psychiatrist turned play researcher and writer, offers a sufficient definition for the
purpose of this paper “…let us define play as a spontaneous, nonstereotyped, intrinsically
pleasurable activity, free of anxiety or other overpowering emotion, without a visible, clear-cut
goal other than its own activity. If the goal supersedes the intrinsic joy of the activity, it ceases to
be „pure‟ play.” (Brown 6)
intense focus
curiosity & obstacles to
flexibility surmount
Play
receptive to spontaneous
new ideas & fun
temporary
loss of one's
ego
Gary Krane, psychologist, writer and playshop leader offers this thought on play“… [It] is
therefore not what we do, but how we do it. In play, we seek to create new ways of relating with
people, words, actions, ideas, images, things, and ourselves. And we do it by creating obstacles

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or challenges to overcome, by freeing ourselves from arbitrary rules and creating new ones in
order to expand our range of possible action.” (18)
PROPERTIES OF PLAY
Apparently purposesless - done for its own sake, no survival value
Voulntary- it is not obligatory or required by duty
Inerent attraction- it is fun, it makes you feel good
Freedom from time- when engaged in play, one loses a sense of the
passage of time
Diminished conciousness of self- one stops thinking about
oneself, how one looks, is fully engaged
Improvisational potential- open to chance, may thus stumble into
new way of seeing and thinking
Continuation desire- a desire to keep doing it, the pleasure of the
experience drives the desire
PROCESS OF PLAY
Anticipation- waiting with
expectation, wonderment, curiosity, excitement, uncertainty
Surprise- unexpected, a discovery, a new sensation or idea, a shifting
Pleasure - a good feeling, like the unexpected pleasure we feel at the
punch line of a good joke
Understanding- the acquisition of new knowledge, a synthesizing of
distinct and separate concepts, an incorporation of ideas that were
previously foreign
Strength- the mastery that comes from constructive experience and
understanding, the empowerment of coming through a scary
experience unscathed, of knowing more about how the world works
Poise- grace, contentment, composure, and a sense of balance in life
(Brown 5)

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boysplayinginwater.jpg
What is the play state?
When animals and people enter into play, they enter into the “play state.” The play state
is an altered state of consciousness. Animals and people alike experience it. The following
pictorial demonstrates beautifully the play state.
The time is late October; the bear is a 1200-pound polar bear. The bear has been cut off
from its major food supply; ice has not formed allowing him access to it. He comes upon
two, tethered, Husky dogs, belonging to a wildlife photographer. The scene that unfolds
befuddles judgment, as one of the Husky dogs wags her tale and gets down into the “play
bow”. The bear, signals back his readiness to play: body language is curved, claws are
not extended, and he isalso ready to play. Despite their species, despite the dictates of
instinct and survival, the play state overrides and the two animals enter a different reality.
The ritual is repeated for a week, until the bear leaves. (Brown 22)

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Fme- when engaged in play, one loses a sense of the passage of
time

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delight &
clarity
motivation involvement
Feelings in the
play state
timeliness
confidence
& serenity
When
W
When play is a part of our life, we experience these feelings of the play state, also called the
„flow‟. This develops into a playful attitude, playfulness, a disposition towards life that reflects
the experiences of the play state. (Krane 23)
Play gives meaning to our life and helps us find our purpose, which is happiness.
In Victor Frankl‟s book Man‟s Search for Meaning, he talks of man‟s quest to find the
purpose of his life, the meaning for which his days are lived.Frankl, a psychiatrist, spent several
years in Nazi concentration camps. During that time, he lost his father, mother, brother and wife.
Every day brought hourly, life threatening experiences. He was starved, brutalized, and lost
everything; almost. He did not lose his dignity. He did not lose his perspective, or attitude,
towards life. He shares in his book “I was struggling to find the reason for my sufferings, my
slow dying. In a last violent protest against the hopelessness of imminent death, I sensed my
spirit piercing through the enveloping gloom. I felt it transcend that hopeless, meaningless world,

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and from somewhere I heard a victorious „Yes‟ in answer to my question of the existence of an
ultimate purpose.” (60) Frankl offers to the world the ability and opportunity to “weave the
threads of a life into a firm pattern of meaning and responsibility.” (87) He acknowledges the
uniqueness of each person‟s life and does purport to offer a universal purpose and meaning to all
of life. “Everyone has his own specific vocation or mission in life to carry out a concrete
assignment which demands fulfillment.” He continues, “Ultimately, one should not ask what the
meaning of his life is, but rather must recognize that it is he who is asked. In a word, each is
questioned by life, and each can only answer to life by answering for his own life; to life he can
only respond by being responsible…responsibleness is the very essence of human existence.”
(131) For Frankl, as for each person‟s journey, we are called to transcend whatever life puts
before us; to find meaning in an event or circumstance, and to transcend it by incorporating it
into our life.
Our purpose in life, our natural desire, is for happiness. The famed Catholic theologian
and saint, Augustine, writes in De Moribus “We all want to live happily; in the whole human
race there is no one who does not assent to this proposition, even before it is fully articulated.”
(1312)
Play makes us happy. Mihalyi Csikszentmihalyi is a scientist who has studied play and
happiness more than any other scientist has. Making a distinction between non-challenging
forms of entertainment (TV and movies), he and many other research scientists have concluded
after thirty years of study “those involved in pursuits which challenge us, while maintaining a
balance between our abilities and that challenge, are the people who are the happiest.” (Krane
30) Play is such an endeavor.

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William Glasser, a noted psychiatrist, proposed the following chart of basic needs. It
includes love & belonging, power, fun, survival and freedom. Educator Richard Sagor, to
complement Glasser‟s needs with the five basic human psychological needs, proposed the chart
next to it. Note on the corresponding chart are competence, optimism, belonging, potency, and
usefulness.When Glasser wrote further on the need for fun, he included laughter, enjoyment
learning and change. The feelings experienced in the play state include confidence, delight,
involvement and motivation. During play we experience laughter, change and learning.
Play fulfills a basic human need for fun, freedom, and love and belonging. Play also fulfills
human psychological needs of competence, potency, optimism, and belonging.
(Corey 334)
Play transforms us. This transformation lasts beyond the actual play experience. It
becomes a part of our fiber. The playful attitude incorporates itself into our perceptions. It leads
us to be able to transcend the events and conflicts of our daily existence. We find purpose and
meaning in our life. We find happiness.

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We are made for play.
There is a term in the field of science called neoteny. The origin of the word is Greek and
means to stretch. Brown explains it well: “By slowing down the rate of development and the
extension of the phases of development from birth to old age, the organism so configured retains
juvenile characteristics into adult phases of development and behavior. By design, we humans
are the most neotenous of species.” (Brown 3) Neoteny refers then, to the retention of juvenile
characteristics into adulthood through the process of rapid development (conception to two
years of age). This neotenous state of human affairs, Brown concludes, “Assures plasticity of
learning by avoiding specialization through the retention of immaturity.” In other words, our
brains remain able to develop, to change, to grow new neural pathways, by remaining young and
not becoming rigid. (3) Ashley Montagu, a noted and highly regarded anthropologist, refers to
neoteny as our “uniqueness, in always remaining in a state of development.” (Montagu3) He
goes on to list neotenous traits of humans that are active throughout our life cycle (107)
playfulness friendship love sensitivity flexibility
work curiosity knowing learning sound thinking
Neotenous creativity open-mindedness optimism enthusiasm
traits of compassion honesty-trust resiliency sense of humor
humans wonder organization imagination sensitivity
intelligence joyfulness laughter and tears song and
dance experimental- mindedness

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What matters about neoteny is the idea that each of us retains the flexibility to learn and change
over the entire course of our lifetime. Brain studies also support the capacity of the brain to grow
new neural connections, particularly though play. (Brown) Below are two pictures of Fiona
Shaw‟s brain. (Fiona is a leading British actor who agreed to have her brain imaged.)
One of the accompanying animations
shows, in green, the three main
parts of her brain, which Fiona used
when she was simply counting: they
are the part, which controls the
movement of the lips and tongue,
the part associated with hearing and
a third part involved in planning what
she was going to say.
Fiona‟s right brain while counting The second animation shows the
parts, in yellow, which she also
employed when "performing".
Towards the front of the brain, there
is a part associated with "higher
order" control of behavior. Towards
the top of the brain is a section,
which controls the movement of the
hands and arms - even though she
wasn’t waving her arms about, she,
was apparently thinking about doing
so.
Fiona‟s right brain while acting
And towards the back of the head is
an area associated with complex
Brain activity during play creates neural pathways. Brown visual imagery, even though she
“These neural connections don‟t seem to have immediate wasn't performing a complex visual
task. (Higham)
function, but when fired up by play is in fact essential to
continued brain organization.” (Brown 41)

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Play develops life skills.
Several years ago, I traveled to Washington, D.C. with the youngest five of my fourteen
children. We were on adventure. The plan was to visit my daughter, Patience, a student in the
Master‟s program at John Paul II. I will always remember how much we played, those five days.
Mercy, Lily, Kolbe, Antonia, Andre and I: we were included right in to the heart and flow of the
graduate students‟ lives. We played board games, sang around campfires, recited silly poetry,
went to the Mall to play soccer, and most of all, and played spontaneous games, which had funny
names and no props. Mafia was one such game. We all gathered in the living room- all ages and
abilities, the rules of the game were explained to us newbies, and the fun began. It was
exhilarating, hysterical, and no one wanted it to end. We played one game after the other. This
was normal life for these young men and women. Although they studied long hours and many
worked odd jobs, playing games was a part of their daily fabric. The impression of goodness and
joy has never left me.
My grandson, Jack, lives with us, along with his sister and his mom. Jack has had a tough
time in his young eight years. His dad is a difficult man and makes Jack‟s life unpredictable.
Jack has had trouble in school, socially. He gets good grades, though I am unsure whether he is
“passing by coping” or if he is really learning. Sometimes I wonder if he has shades of autism.
Last week he told my Kolbe, 15, that a boy in his class was having a birthday party. Jack was the
only boy in the class not invited. The day of the party, the boys shuffled off, together, and one
made sure to look back and stick his tongue out at Jack. The week before a child offered
Jackfifty cents if he promised not to play with the kids. Jack has an issue or two; he can be
persistent and he can have trouble following directions. Last year the third grade teacher was
nearly driven “to drink” because of Jack, and so spent the year screaming at him and putting his

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desk out tint he hallway. (It is a private school). Despite the number of times my daughter and I
offered tangible, workable solutions to Jack‟s behavior, we were never able to work as a team.
Jack has a miserable school life, a difficult Dad he gets to be with every other weekend, and us.
As a family, we have decided that Jack most needs to play. If Jack is play deprived, and I think
he is, he may have but a few years to set things a right. Kolbe has taken Jack under his wing and
the two of them have become inseparable, whenever Jack is around. In one month‟s time, Kolbe
has become a confidant, and a friend. It is remarkable to me; both that Kolbe has done this
mostly on his own and that Jack has blossomed. Recently Kolbe advised Jack to invite one boy
home from his class to ride dirt bikes, swim in the pool and play basketball or other games.
Jack‟s dilemma was whether to invite the boy who plays Pokémon all day or his “frenemy”. I
had never even heard the word, but it is a word, and it is applicable. They have decided to invite
the frenemy home. Play will lead the way to solving relationship struggles and repairing a very
fragile self-esteem. It may even save Jack‟s life.
Many years ago, we adopted a boy named Fern. He came to us right before his 6th
birthday. Three years later, we would be on the doorsteps of the children‟s division of the State
Hospital with commitment papers. Unfortunately, the Doctor on call that night would not honor
our papers and sent us home; home with a very disturbed nine-year-old boy.
We did get Fern treatment, eventually. He went to Colorado, to the Attachment Center.
While there, he divulged the nightmare three of our children, babies (age 2 – 6) had been living
for three years, at his hand. Fern, diagnosed with Reactive Attachment disorder, remained in
Colorado until he became of age. I don‟t know where he is now. Over the course of three years,
he managed to kill animals, attempt to kill one of our children, and committed unspeakable acts

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of violence, all without our knowledge. I was mighty suspicious, but unable to prove anything,
until that summer, when we had him committed.
What we came to learn about him well after his stay with us were facts such as his
growing up in a satanic cult. He did actually participate in the murder of his sister Fern had been
severely ritualistically abused form birth. He was very bright, and he had no conscience. What
does Fern have to do with play?
Fern, in addition to the abuse he suffered, was also a victim of severe play deprivation.
He had excellent social skills, but could not play with anyone. Children were afraid of him,
animals knew not go near him. He made it his life to control whatever and whomever he could.
That translated into his becoming a perpetrator and our children becoming his victims.
How did we respond, how did we recover? After the initial trauma, we spent many years
rebuilding trust with our children. We determined to make life honest, yet magical. We knew our
attitude had as much to do with their well-being as did keeping them safe. We came to see life
through children‟s eyes, respecting what matter most to them, as opposed to us the grown-ups.
We listened, we served, and we fought for intimacy. It became very important to not allow the
children to escape being in relationship with us, as hard as it could get. We strove towards a joy,
towards living a life dependent on spirit and heart. We started to homeschool the children and as
the years went by, we all grew together. We continued to have babies, knowing that life was
worth living. We depended on laughter and tears, humor and kindness, optimism, compassion,
wonder, and playfulness. Our kids played. We learned and played together. We more than
survived: we are happy. We never could erase the tragedy, but we could and did transcend it.
Play, as evidenced in the above personal vignettes, enhanced family cohesiveness,
increased problem solving, creativity, and productivity. It reduced sibling conflict and other

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conflicts. Play has helped with healing, mental clarity, and will help with psychological healing.
It has taught better communication skills, and the ability to fine tune reaction time! It has brought
people together in friendship and built community. It has improved our outlook on life.
Why grownups do not play and why it matters.
“Play is for kids.”
Not so, especially according to a recent study conducted by social researchers on a group
of adult business executives. The study was on play and health and included 101 men and
women participants, over a 12-month period. The results: “when play is featured prominently in
the personal identity of the individual there is a greater awareness for and acceptance of their
own emotions and a greater skill at expressing their feelings in appropriate ways. They also
pursue intellectual stimulation, avoid exposure to harmful chemicals and drugs, and engage in
behaviors that promote the health and welfare of their broader social community.” (Doster et al.
1071) These business executives appear to support the notion that play, “as a creative activity,
induces positive emotions and provides a cognitive buffer from novel stress. Play, as an attitude,
not just an activity, encourages cognitive flexibility and improves quality of life for individuals.”
(1073)
“I need to spend time with my family after I work.”
Then there is good news for you! The family that plays together stays together. Current
research, according to Professor Dianne Smith from Brigham Young University, “the more time
a family spends together participating in recreational activities, the higher degree of family
cohesiveness. Family recreation is one meaningful way to create stronger families.” (Smith 1)
Smith reviewed several studies done over the course of eight years and reports: “Recreation

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allows family members to share common interests, increase cohesion, and have fun. According
to research, families who do things together, like enjoying the outdoors or taking vacations, are
more likely to be happy, strong families. Family values of communication, decision making,
problem solving and cooperation in work and play can be enhanced in recreational settings.” (3)
The definition of family recreation included games, hikes, sports, picnics, kite flying, walking,
gardening and fitness activities. While the study noted increased socialization (getting along
together, sharing, learning, and increased family loyalty), it also suggested the overall benefit to
society, as a society is only “as strong as its homes and families.” (6)
I am stressed enough without adding another „must do‟ to my list. Play science is hype.
Psychiatrist Lenore Terr writes in her book “Adult play is picking up interest in
therapeutic usefulness. [Play is turning out to be]…a great nonmedicinal tranquilizer.” (Leo)
There is an emergent industry concerned with laughter and play, and it is targeting the working
world. Consultants are available to help companies realize the health and morale benefit of
playing and having fun. Matt Weinstein of one such company, Playfair, Inc. quips, “Laughter
and play are a way to make the workplace more human.” Humor advisors and play specialists are
commanding rates of $1000 to $2000 per hour to offer advice and insights to corporations like
AT & T and General Electric. (Leo 1999) It is not hype; there may be something in it even for
the stressed out.
“Í think it is better to spend time studying and improving the mind.”
If you lived in Japan, you would not think so. Yet, we hold the Japanese educational
system in great esteem.In Japan, play is “living”. A Japanese teacher refers to play as “a
necessity that provides us with the power of living through optimism and initiative.” (Taylor et
al. 3) Playfulness, equated with a state of heart, and referred to as „lightheartedness‟, „spirit‟, or

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„mind‟ Japanese children‟s development is “protected by play, [which is] the power of living,
the basic foundation of feelings, desires and attitudes.” (Taylor et al.1) The government, in its
document on kindergarten education outlines the role of play: “children learn through play, [that
play] is their voluntary activity and that such activity creates the foundation for a balance
between mind and body.” (Taylor et al. 4)
Stuart Brown discusses Cal Tech‟s Jet Propulsion Lab‟s dilemma in his book. The lab
had been the researcher for seven decades, but found themselves with a problem in the nineties.
As their top engineers readied for retirement (having put men on the moon and created
innovative robotic technology), replacements were hard to find. “Even though JPL hired top
graduates from all the best schools – MIT, Stanford, Cal Tech –the new hires were often missing
something. The experienced managers found that the newly minted engineers might excel at the
theoretical…but they didn‟t do well with practical difficulties.” Apparently, the processes of
problem solving involving taking a problem apart, “tossing it around, breaking it down, teasing
out its critical elements and rearranging them in innovative solutions” was lost on them. (Brown
10) These students were highly academic, well educated, had done science camps instead of
sports. Eventually JPL solved their problem with the help of a fellow who ran a machine shop.
He questioned the retiring and the new recruits and found that the former had all worked and
played with their hands when they were growing up. The latter had never taken a bicycle apart,
put an engine together, or done anything with their hands. Herein was the problem. Brown:
“Those who had played with their hands as kids and adults possessed far stronger practical
problem-solving skills than their counterparts who merely excelled in theoretical mathematics.”
(11)
Spending time playing improves the mind, increases creativity and spawns mastery.

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What about gambling, war gaming, teasing and recreational aggression, or idleness?
There is bad play, and it is not healthy. Like eating or drinking alcohol, it is a reality that
people will be bad players and will look for the dark side. As with other addictions-, extreme
behavior, which is self-destructive and hurts others, does not bring happiness. Is play sinful, a
waste of time or idleness? Recalling the beginning of this paper as a way to address the above
concerns, consider this: “let us define play as a spontaneous, nonstereotyped, intrinsically
pleasurable activity, free of anxiety or other overpowering emotion, without a visible, clear-cut
goal other than its own activity. If the goal supersedes the intrinsic joy of the activity, it ceases to
be „pure‟ play.” (Brown 6) Bad play disqualifies itself as play. The benefits of play as already
discussed contraindicate the idea that play is sinful or idle; which is not to say that bad play isn‟t
either of those two things.
“I don‟t know how to play. How do you play when you haven‟t forever? I am afraid.”
Many grownups are afraid. Do you know why? Play is about intimacy. We do not have to
know how to play, or what to play, when we have not played since a child. We need to be open
to the adventure. We need to be convinced that play is, indeed, good for us. We need to know the
risk of being adult play deprived. Interviewer Alison Kadlec, after an interview with Stuart
Brown, “Adults, for example, who have either forgotten or lost its joys, or put play in their back
pocket, are people who, as a result of their own adult play deprivation regardless of how much
play they may have had as kids, will be rigid, narrow in their thinking, brittle in their response to
stress, and much less open to handling the curve balls life throws us.” (Kadlec 2) Setting
ourselves on a course to play, to play for life, is about allowing ourselves to be intimate with
those we love, those we enjoy spending time with and those we with whom we are in

18. DeMasi 18
relationship. It is about being whole, continuing our journey in life, becoming the best we can be.
It is about our own happiness and the happiness others.Playing for life is about building a better
world, our own and the one to which we all belong.
I have forgotten so many things over my 57 years, but I have never forgotten Max Roeder
Roeder Max. He is still with me. How remarkable is that? An imaginary friend, yet a true friend
to the end. I am so thankful for the play I have enjoyed throughout my life, for each adventure,
for each moment to laugh and to love. Are you ready?

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Works Cited
Brown, Stuart. The Power of Play Philadelphia: Perseus 2007 Print
Burghardt, Gordon. The Genesis of Animal Play Cambridge: MIT 2005 Print
Corey, Gerald. Theories and Practice of Counseling & Psychotherapy Belmont: Brooks/Cole
2013 Print
Csikszentmihalyi, Mihaly. Creativity: Flow and the Psychology of Discovery and Invention New
York: Harper Collins 1991 Print
Donaldson, Fred. Playing by Heart Hartford: Health 1993 Print
Doster, Joseph, Rebecca Miekle, Celeste Riley, Raphael Toledo, and Arthur Goven. “Play and
Health among a Group of Adult Business Executives” Social Behavior & Personality
34(9) 2006: 1071-1080. Print
Elkind, David. The Power of Play New York: Penguin 2010 Print
Fagen, Robert. “Animal play, games of angels, biology, and Brian.” In A.D. Pellegrini (ed.) The
Future of Play Theory (pp.23-44) Albany: State University of NY Press 1995 Print
Frankl, Victor. Man‟s Search for MeaningNewYork: Washington Square Press 1946 Print
Frost, Joe. “Play Deprivation: A Factor in Juvenile Violence”. Dimensions in Early Childhood
1995 V 23 n 3 pp. 14- 20
Goldhalber, Jeanne. “If We Call It Science Then Can We Let the Children Play?”.Childhood
Education Fall 1994 V71 n1 pp.24-27
Kadlec, Alison. “Play and Public Life” National Civic Review 2009: 3-11.Print
Krane, Gary. Simple Fun for Busy People Berkeley: Conari 1998 Print
Higham, Alan. “What‟s my Brain‟s Motivation?” Today ProgrammeBBC n.d. Web
10 April 2012

20. DeMasi 20
Leo, John. “Chortle While You Work” U.S.News and World Report 126 (16)
1999: 19.Print
Montagu, Ashley. Growing Young New York: Bergin & Garvey 1981 Print
Narey, Theresa. “One Thing Leads to Another: Evolution, Play and Technology”. Online
submission to ERIC 2010 http:www.eric.ed.gov/contentdelivery/servlet
Singer, J.L., Singer, D.G. “Imaginative Play as Precursor of Narrative Consciousness”. Abstracts
in Anthropology 2006: Vol 25(2) pp97-117
Smith, Diane. “Strengthening Family Values in the Twenty-First Century” Journal of Physical
Education, Recreation & Dance 68 (8) 1997: 39-41
Spinka, M., Newberry, R.C., Bekoff, M. “Mammalian Play: Training for the
Unexpected”. The Quarterly Review of Biology 2001: 76(2) 141-168
Taylor, Satomi, Crosby Rogers, Arleen Dodd, Toshiko Kaneda, Iku Nagasaki, Yasuhiro
Watanabe and Toru Goshiki. “The Meaning of Play: a Cross-Cultural Study of American
And Japanese Teachers‟ Perspectives on Play” Journal of Early Childhood Teacher
Education 24 2004 311-321
All photos from the public domain, found on Google Chrome Images
Addendum

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How to Play Mafia
The game of Mafia is about convincing others, about being able to lie believably, and about
being able to figure out if other people are lying. It will reveal a lot about players to each other,
and works best if the players know a little bit about each other first. It is tremendous fun if the
players have a sense of humor.
The setting is a once peaceful town which has been invaded by the dark forces of corruption -
the Mafia.
The Mafia's sole purpose is to murder the productive citizens in their bed. They have free reign
of the town at night, but by day they appear to be normal citizens.
As a response to these terrible events, the townspeople have hired an Inspector, whose job is to
remain disguised while attempting to root our the members of the Mafia.
Game Rules
Game Setup
The game of Mafia is played by an odd number of people. Good numbers are 9, 11, or 13.
Players are either townspeople or Mafia. In addition, one of the townspeople is the Inspector.
Who plays what is determined at random. One method for determining who is who is to use
cards: black cards for the mafia, red cards for townspeople, and the king of hearts for the
inspector. Players may not show their cards to others.
The number of Mafia and townspeople can vary, depending on which side is winning more
often:
Players Mafia Leans Toward
9 3 Even
9 2 Townspeople
11 3 Even
11 4 Mafia
13 3 Townspeople
13 4 Even
13 5 Mafia
Starting with 3 Mafia is generally recommended.
Order of Play

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The game takes place over the duration of several "days" and "nights". Play begins at the start of
the first "day", and proceeds as follows:
1. Everyone discusses who might be in the Mafia. Eventually, a vote is called and the
(un)lucky candidate is run out of town (or lynched, or tarred and feathered, or... You get
the idea). As they are run out of town (of whatever), the player gets to make one final
statement.
The first person thus removed from play becomes the Moderator
2. Night falls. Everyone goes to sleep (by closing their eyes).
3. The Moderator tells the members of the Mafia to open their eyes. The members of the
Mafia then select someone they will murder, by pointing at people until they all agree on
one. The Mafia then close their eyes.
4. The Moderator tells the Inspector to open his eyes. This happens even if the Inspector has
been killed, or run out of town. The Inspector then points at a suspect. The Moderator
nods "yes" if that person in the Mafia, or "no" if they are innocent. The Inspector then
closes his eyes.
5. The Moderator announces the coming of the morning, and the name of the luckless
victim. Embelishments on the method of death are fun here (Ooh, Jim was found garotted
in his Barcalounger!).
6. The townspeople, realizing that their previous council did not root out all the evil, return
to step one and play proceeds from there.
Winning Conditions
The game is over when:
All of the Mafia have been eliminated. The townspeople win
There are an equal number of townspeople and Mafia at the end of a "day". The Mafia
wins
Play Hints
Calling a Vote
During the day, the townspeople get to vote on who to run out of town. At any point during the
discussion, someone can call a vote by saying "I vote So-and-So is a Mafia and should be run out
of town." If more than half the living players agree, then the elected person is unceremoniously
removed from the game. There should always be an odd number of players during the day, so a
vote will not end in a deadlock. Voting and debated may become heated. That's where the fun
lies!
The First Day
During the first day, members of the Mafia have no information about who's in the Mafia or not.
The person to get voted out is pretty random, so it's up to everyone to make a good, convincing
first statement that will result in them not being voted out.

23. DeMasi 23
Once the first night falls, though, the Mafia will be able to act in a much mure unified way.
The Inspector
The Inspector has no way to prove their role, since players are not allowed to show their cards to
one another to prove they are what they say there are. Admitting one is the Inspector can result in
a swift death in the middle of the night, unless only one member of the Mafia was left alive.
Try these games as well:
Fruit Basket Equipment Needed – People intelligent enough to stand in a circle.
How to Play – Make a tight circle – no gaps. Each person chooses a fruit (a little
help – strawberry, banana, watermelon, tomato [yes, it is a fruit], cherry, grape).
Then It is in the middle. It calls out a fruit. Everyone who has chosen that fruit has
to run to another area – an empty space left by a member of the same fruit group.
It tries to get into one of those places, therefore leaving one different person in the
middle to be It. One cannot move to the space directly beside them, nor can they
stay in the same spot – if Itdoesn’t make it to an empty space, It has to do the
whole thing over again, with another fruit. Oh, the ghastly horrors!
Mummy Wrap Equipment Needed – One roll of toilet paper for every 2 people
How to Play – A fun game. Split into teams of two and give each team a roll of
toilet paper. Games with toilet paper are always good. Then one person tries to
turn the other into a mummy. Everything has to be covered except the eyes. First
team done wins.
MOVIES: The Three Idiots, A Beautiful Life, Dan in Real Life, Waiting for Forever
BOOKS: They Love to Laugh (good family read aloud) Simple Fun for Busy People