The Importance of Play in Human Development

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What is play & why is it important?

Play is “what children and young people do when they follow their own ideas, in their own way and for their own reasons”. (Getting Serious About Play, DCMS) Susan Isaacs stated that play encompasses children’s behaviour which is: Play is when children act for no “external goal or reward”. They are following their own whims, interests and desires.

What is free play?

Free play is child-initiated and child-directed. Children choose their activities and focus, enabling unconstrained freedom of expression and open-ended interactions with their environment.

What is play in psychology?

Some Thoughts"Play is:A complex set of behaviors characterized by fun and spontaneityPlay can be sensory, neuromuscular, cognitive & any combination of the three.Play involves repetition of experience, exploration, experimentation, and imitation of one’s surroundings."~ Linda L. Florey 1981“Play is the universal language of childhood.

What does play mean to a child?

Susan Isaacs stated that play encompasses children’s behaviour which is: Play is when children act for no “external goal or reward”. They are following their own whims, interests and desires. “it’s what I do when everyone else has stopped telling me what to do” Play is freedom, time, and space!

What does play mean in a child's life?

In play, children are active and move about a lot. In play, children interact socially. Play is not related to a subject, such as mathematics or literacy. What is play? The emotional dimensions are felt in play. Play is used as a reward for good work or good behaviour. In play, children do not need to do brain work.

What is play based on?

Based on children’s own imagination. Play is fun and not like school work. Free spirited – in play, children can learn if they want to. In play, children are active and move about a lot. In play, children interact socially. Play is not related to a subject, such as mathematics or literacy.

What is the play department at Great Ormond Street Hospital?

Welcome to the Play department at Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH). Each day, the team of Health Play Specialists at GOSH come into contact with around 200-300 children. The Play team are funded by Great Ormond Street Hospital Children's Charity. The play team helps patients and families in different ways:

What is Google Play?

Google Play, also known as the Google Play Store or Play Store and formerly Android Market, is a digital distribution service operated and developed by Google.

What Is Play

1. https://www.playscotland.org/learn/what-is-play/
2. https://www.unicef.org/sites/default/files/2018-12/UNICEF-Lego-Foundation-Learning-through-Play.pdf
3. https://theeducationhub.org.nz/what-is-play-and-why-is-it-important-for-learning/
4. https://www.education-ni.gov.uk/articles/play-matters
5. https://activelearningspace.org/principles/what-is-play/
6. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/freedom-learn/202205/what-is-play-how-children-define-it
7. https://www.child-encyclopedia.com/play
8. https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/play
9. https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2017-34644-003

Play Information

1. https://www.stagemilk.com/antigone-sophocles/
2. https://www.gosh.nhs.uk/wards-and-departments/departments/clinical-support-services/play-information-parents-and-visitors/
3. https://assets.cambridge.org/97813166/31898/excerpt/9781316631898_excerpt.pdf
4. https://play.wales/news_category/new-play-deprivation-information-sheet/
5. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Play
6. https://support.google.com/googleplay/?hl=en-GB
7. https://blog.google/products/google-play/