ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the connection between the human instinct to play and the development of the social empathy necessary for the creation of a healthy society. Public health interventions which address the social concomitants of health pay heed to the psycho-social nature of health differentials while acknowledging the life-long significance of early experience and the role of playful interaction in establishing the empathy instinct. The association between play and attachment is well-established and complementary research into the neurological and psycho-social impact of early experience recognizes a role for play in the development of social empathy and its significance for health equity and consequently for public health. The development of self-compassion may also be nurtured through engagement in the creative arts and creative play projects, as demonstrated by the many initiatives designed to improve the social and emotional wellbeing of children in hospital.
