TED Talk: “Why play is vital – no matter your age” presented by Dr Stuart Brown from the National Institute for Play in New York.
Dr Brown’s research indicates that there is a strong correlation between success and playful activity. Play is an altered state, and it’s this state that allows us to explore the possible.
Play changes or overrides:
- Nature
- Behaviour
- Outcomes
Types of play as identified by Dr Brown:
Body play – spontaneous desire to escape gravity – playing for play’s sake – no purpose but the joy of play
Object play – play is practical and need curiosity and exploration with our hands to help solve problems
Social play – if you want to belong
Rough and tumble play – learning medium for all, be chaotic and develop emotional regulation
Spectator play
Ritual play
Imaginative play — Internal narrative story
Solo play
Our own play history is unique and personal, and can be a transforming force.
Importance of play to creative thinking leading from Mihaley Csikszentmihalyi’s idea of
FLOW = fully immersed in what they are doing
= energised focus
= full involvement
= success in the process
What has this to do with learning and learning using games?
It reaffirms the “permission to play” idea I was interested in exploring by adding to this idea in these ways:
- Play is a biological human need.
- Play releases the passion within us.
- Play enables humans to form trusting relationships.
- Play enables humans to safely explore, to be curious, to connect, and to learn.
- Play helps contextual memory of events, places, and people.
- Play empowers humans, and enriches life experiences.
- Play is a freedom and an opportunity.
Here is the talk – 26 minutes in total.