Latest news with #playfulness
Yahoo
26-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Michael Jay, fox, declared as the official mascot of the 2026 Arctic Winter Games
The fox is based on a character from the TV series Northern Tales. A spokesperson said he represents the playfulness, courage and heart of the Arctic Winter Games. The mascot will be touring the Yukon leading up to the March 2026 games in Whitehorse.
Forbes
23-06-2025
- Lifestyle
- Forbes
4 Habits Couples In Fulfilling Relationships Share, By A Psychologist
By doing these four things every day, you create the foundation for a healthy, lasting and ... More emotionally satisfying relationship. At the heart of any fulfilling relationship is how safe, seen and secure you feel when you're with your partner. But in the tidal wave of everyday life, the tiny moments of connection that used to come so easily often get lost in the shuffle. And before you know it, you're feeling like you've lost the spark that made love so easy. Reigniting that chemistry begins with four easy habits, ones you likely did naturally when you initially started dating. With some purpose and persistence, they're easier to revive than you may think. Here are four habits that sustain love and satisfaction in relationships. 1. Playfulness And Physical Affection The best part about being in an emotionally fulfilling relationship is knowing you can show up exactly as you are, with everything that makes you 'you.' When couples feel secure, they often express affection through doing things that may appear silly, such as light teasing, playful tussles, acting like children, head rubs or holding hands. These non-sexual touches and moments of harmless absurdity signal emotional safety that says, 'I feel safe enough with you to let my guard down.' In fact, a 2024 study published in Scientific Reports looked at over 460 couples and explored how different kinds of playfulness show up in relationships. They described four types of adult playfulness: And this is what they found: Couples who were more playful, especially those who were lighthearted and socially warm, tended to feel more secure in their relationships. They were less likely to avoid intimacy or feel anxious about being loved. Playfulness also helped reduce romantic jealousy. So, when you joke around, wrestle on the couch or make up weird play-pretend scenarios, they signal a fundamental sense of safety in your relationship. Over time, this safety becomes the groundwork for deeper intimacy, ease of communication and a partnership that feels emotionally spacious. 2. Domestic Chores As Rituals Of Intimacy The most meaningful moments in a relationship don't necessarily happen during planned dates or long getaways. While these events can deepen commitment, real bonding often takes place in everyday 'micro-moments.' When a relationship is emotionally satisfying, the ordinary turns extraordinary simply because it's shared with your partner. Doing chores together such as cooking or watching your plants grow, even deciding 'what to eat today' can turn into small rituals of connection. A 2020 study of over 480 couples, published in Socius, found that sharing household chores is closely tied to higher relationship satisfaction, but not just because the work is split. The key factor was how partners communicated around these tasks. When communication was open, supportive and emotionally attuned, couples were more likely to share domestic work in a way that felt fair and unifying. For women, especially, having a partner who contributed and communicated well led to a deeper sense of satisfaction and equity. For men, good communication often follows from sharing chores, highlighting how participation itself can reinforce closeness. Domestic labor carries emotional meaning. It's not just about cleaning or cooking. It reflects care, investment and mutual respect in the shared understanding that 'We are doing this life together.' 3. Daily Emotional Check-Ins When you are in a relationship that feels emotionally safe and connected, daily emotional check-ins come naturally. You find some time to spend together simply to check in on how everything's going lately, whether that's in the morning over breakfast and shared coffee or at night when you are winding up after a long day of work. And this is more important than you may think. A 2020 study explored how daily relationship mindfulness — being openly and receptively attentive to your partner in the present moment — affects day-to-day relationship behaviors. Researchers found that on days when one partner was more mindful, couples experienced: Interestingly, when relationship mindfulness was low on a given day, many partners with insecure attachment styles responded with more positive behaviors the next day, possibly as a way to 'make up for it.' The study shows that even small daily fluctuations in presence and attunement can shape the emotional tone of your relationship. 4. Parallel Play And Creative Collaboration There's a unique sort of emotional intimacy that emerges when couples create side by side, working on their own thing while knowing the other person is right there with them. This kind of 'parallel play' and collaborative effort can come from shared hobbies, such as playing different games side by side simply because you enjoy their company, writing screenplays together to know what their inner world feels like or playing music and singing covers. You can even help each other with work if you're in the same field. In 2021, a study published in Psychology of Music discovered that couples who spent time doing shared music activities, such as listening to a song together or making music for fun, reported that they had higher levels of commitment, positive communication and emotional coordination within their relationship. Surprisingly, structured performances and official duets weren't what created this sense of closeness. It was the casual, extemporaneous co-creation that created a closer sense of 'us.' The authors refer to this as the Shared Musical Activities in Relationships (SMAR) model, demonstrating the way music can subtly coordinate emotions, fuel better communication and create deeper relational trust. This shows that emotional connection doesn't always require a deep conversation. Sometimes presence and support are enough, which affirms, 'We are team; it's us against the world.' By following these four habits, couples can build emotionally fulfilling relationships. Sometimes, all it takes is the intent and willingness to bring back what lit you up when you first started dating. Want to know how emotionally fulfilling your relationship really is? Take this science-backed test to see where you and your partner stand: Relationship Flourishing Scale
Asharq Al-Awsat
31-05-2025
- General
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Trump's Advice to Macron: ‘Make Sure the Door Remains Closed'
US President Donald Trump said his advice for French President Emmanuel Macron, who has been shown on a video through an open plane door being pushed in the face by his wife, was "make sure the door remains closed." Asked about the incident by reporters in the Oval Office, Trump said he had spoken to Macron in the wake of the video that showed his wife, Brigitte, giving him a shove on their plane. Macron has shrugged off the incident as a moment of playfulness. "He's fine," Trump said of Macron.
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
I play alongside my kids now that they're older more than I did when they were toddlers
When my kids were young, I often felt tired of playing with toys by the time I was done with work. We connected in other ways and loved dancing together and being silly throughout the day. Now they're older, and I love "big kid" toys, like board games and video games, and we play more. I've been taking care of kids since I was a teenager. It started with babysitting, tutoring, and eventually working as a nanny. When I became a speech-language pathologist in my early 30s, I learned that playing with young children is a huge part of language growth and bonding. For years, I spent my workday on the floor, playing pretend and zooming a car down a track hundreds of times to teach vocabulary and speech sounds. While I was spending all day with other people's kids, I also had three young kids of my own. As a single mother, after work, I was completely "played out." I couldn't stand the idea of spending even more time sitting on the floor, doing the same repetitive task. But I knew that quality time and communication were important for my kids' development. Instead of playing with toys, I focused on embodying playfulness. I prioritized meaningful, joyful engagement during everyday tasks. When we cooked together or did chores, we got silly and danced. When we went on walks, we talked about everything we saw. We rode the ferry, hiked, and tried new cuisines together. Wherever we went, I made sure to keep my phone in my purse unless I really needed it. When I truly needed time to myself, I made sure to tell my kids we'd spend time together after I recharged. But I'd do so in a soft, developmentally appropriate way by saying something like, "Let's bake cookies in 20 minutes," and setting a timer. Because this was a normal part of our routine, my kids didn't seem to mind. They often played independently or with each other. From my training, I knew that the most important part was telling my kids the plan in a way they could understand and sticking to it. This built trust, modeled healthy communication, and set kind boundaries. Now, my kids are 15, 13, and 10. As they've gotten older, we started scheduling designated fun time together to make sure we don't get lost in the rush of dinner, homework, and extracurriculars. Last month, my 10-year-old wanted to wander around the local plant nursery, where he could smell the herbs and buy a vine for his bedroom window. My 15-year-old and I spent time learning to animate our illustrations together on Procreate Dreams. My 13-year-old and I still love baking unique treats, and we use The Great British Baking Show as inspiration. I've also realized I love "big kid" toys more than I expected. A couple of years ago, we invested in board games for our family Christmas present, and last year, we had a blast playing our first video game together. I love finding new ways to goof off together, and we try to play games together twice a month as a family. My favorite part of the year with my kids is Thanksgiving, when we travel to a rural cabin. Half the trunk is filled with new board games, rackets, DIY obstacle courses, and craft materials. The best part is that all three of my kids often teach me how to play, and as I learn their games, I learn more about how they think. My son recently guided me through Roblox, and even though I called on my vintage Nintendo skills when we found Kirby's Return to Dreamland, I still had a lot to learn. As he explained strategies in both games, I could tell he cared about both of us having a good time. He often came to rescue me in Kirby when I couldn't figure out how to get out of a maze or beat a villain. When I truly couldn't understand the point of Roblox after several sessions, my son said, "Figuring it out together is the whole awesome point!" And he was right. My relationship with my kids has grown and changed over the years. For us, joyful connection is all about discovery and finding ways to make ordinary moments extraordinary. Read the original article on Business Insider
