I am a big believer in the power of play. Children aren’t the only ones who benefit – we all are able to learn and create more effectively when we approach our tasks in a spirit of playful inquiry.

I frequently use graphic and manipulative tools with my clients – one group in particular has come to expect Play-doh and will complain if I don’t bring it!

So I was very interested to see this study indicating that adults are less likely to cheat and more likely to engage in cooperative behaviors when things like teddy bears and crayons  are present. They even found that the more daycare centers and kindergartens are near a company, the higher their rate of charitable giving!

It seems that we unconsciously act more cooperatively when we are reminded of our need to care for the children. What are the implications for this in our public and business life?