What is play?

The essence of play is enjoyment, play is something that we all do, and it can take place anywhere at any time. On the surface play may appear simple, however once you have scratched the surface it is a deep and complex phenomenon.

Play can be paradoxical with the ability to be serious and fun, risky and safe, exhausting and relaxing; it can be a solitary experience or can take place in the company of others. In recent years there have been numerous attempts to define play however the most commonly accepted definition within the play sector is;

“Play is freely chosen, personally directed, intrinsically motivated behaviour that actively engages the child”. (Best Play 2000)

The Dobson report, Getting Serious About Play, 2004 describes play as;

“Play means what children and young people do when they follow their own ideas and interests in their own way and for their own reasons”

Whilst the Children’s Play Council Briefing 1, 2002 uses the following definition;

“Play is what I do when everyone else has stopped telling me what to do”

One thing is certain; all children have the right to play. Article 31 of The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the child (1989), which was ratified by the UK government in 1991 states:

1. Parties recognize the right of the child to rest and leisure, to engage in play and recreational activities appropriate to the age of the child and to participate freely in cultural life and the arts.

It is through the medium of play that children learn and understand the world  around them and all children irrespective of race, ability, gender, culture or  geographic location have the same instinctive drive for free play and require  equal access to good quality inclusive play provision. Positive experiences of  play can impact on the developmental potential in areas of creativity,  psychological well being, socialisation, physical development and intelligence.  Play is essential to human development; play is innate and essential to the  survival of the species.