February 2026

As adults we often have a morbid fear of being coerced into 'play', so our letter steers clear of doing that, instead suggesting that there are many proven benefits from allowing ourselves to access the lightness of play, going on to think about what that might look like for each of us on an individual basis. 

We include an art postcard featuring the work of Matisse, an artist who, through accessing an ability to play even while seriously ill, produced some of the most influential Western art of the 20th century.

Also in this issue is a small selection of simple games to try out and a recipe for 'Pollocktines'. Playful and delicious.

Our Invitation to Wonder has a thought provoking quotation from Gillian Rose about how children make healthy use of play to explore the boundaries of fantasy and reality.