Say "Yes!" To Play

Humans do it, bees do it—in fact, all animals do it—we all love to play. But why?

To understand the "why," it helps to first grasp the "what," so let's break it down.

Play has fascinated scholars across time and cultures, yet it remains somewhat mysterious. In 2018, researcher Peter Gray compiled much of what we know about play and identified several key characteristics:

• Play is self-chosen and self-directed.

• Play is intrinsically motivated.

• Play occurs in an alert, active, yet relatively stress-free state of mind.

• Play is imaginative.

• Play follows mental rules but leaves room for creativity.

Sounds pretty interesting, but what do these qualities mean for our littlest learners? Let's take a closer look:

• Self-chosen and self-directedmeans that play is driven by the child’s own choices. This doesn't mean adults aren't involved, but rather that they take on the role of observer or follower, not teacher or leader.

• Intrinsically motivated means that children play because they want to, not because they’re told to.

• And the best play happens when children are relaxed.

When children are given the freedom and autonomy to play, their creativity blossoms. Their imagination takes flight, and voilà—that’s play in its purest form!