Value of Play

Jane Goodall’s animal observations have helped her understand some aspects of human behavior and its place in nature. She recalls a story about a young male elephant who was the lone adolescent in the herd.  Everyday he would station himself on a path that was used by buffalo on their way to drink at a pond.  He hid in the undergrowth and then as the buffalo appeared he burst from his hiding place and charged toward then, ears out with a great trumpeting sound.  The startled buffalo would scatter in all directions.  The young elephants game of surprise was something the buffalo did not expect.  Jane Goodall was able to look into a peephole at the young elephant and witness his joy and creativity at play. 

The desire to play is intrinsic; it is a state of being that is intensely pleasurable.  It has the ability to energize and renew a natural sense of optimism, an optimism that opens us up to new possibilities.   Recently scientists have begun to view play as a profound biological process.  They are learning that play sculpts our brains; it makes us smarter and more adaptable and is central to brain development.

When children play they learn trust, empathy and social skills.   Fourth grade teacher Amy Whitcomb part educator and part comedian at the Rooftop School in San Francisco uses her love of play and fun to teach math.  she says, “my general philosophy is if it’s not fun they are not going to want to learn.”  She has learned to keep her inner child alive and uses it to engage and teach her students.

Play optimizes the learning process and increases performance.  There are patterns of play like the periodic table of the elements.  A teacher can use this table to integrate play into their lesson plans

• Attunement Play - simply means you are attuned to one another; it’s spontaneous, like laughter or a loving smile.  Get into the habit of connecting to your students daily with this infectious type of joy
• Body Play and movement – think of simple movements like skipping.  Skipping is a lesson in gravity, flexibility and rhythm.  Any movement that is done for its own sake is intrinsically playful.
• Object Play - hands playing with all types of objects help the brain develop problem solving.  The manipulation of objects creates curiosity and innovation.
• Social Play – creates bonds, fosters belonging and is a celebration.
• Imaginative and pretend play - the ability of the young child to create their own sense of their mind takes place through pretend play.  It remains the key to innovation, creativity and discovery.
• Storytelling – narrative play – is the way most children love to learn, it is play under a microscope.  A story helps make sense of the world, helps to understand others and gives children a way to expand their own consciousness.  Stories can give your own life with, drama, love and comedy.
• Transformative – integrative and creative play - uses fantasy, theatre, art and music to give enrichment.

A transformation in education is possible, if educators apply the understanding from the science of play.   Students are primed for learning through play, when they have fun at learning, they will pursue it for it’s own sake.  It is how nature assured us how to learn about the world and our places in it.