We develop more emotional maturity if we play more. We develop better decision-making ability if we play more.

The quote argues that play is not a frivolous add-on but a developmental engine. By “playing more,” people rehearse emotions in a low-stakes setting—learning to tolerate frustration, negotiate rules, recover from loss, and empathize with others—skills that together amount to emotional maturity. It also links play to decision-making: games and playful experimentation require choosing strategies, anticipating consequences, revising plans, and learning from feedback. Implicitly, the statement critiques cultures (in schools, workplaces, or families) that suppress play in favor of constant productivity, suggesting that such suppression can stunt both emotional growth and practical judgment.