Principles of Play Science
At the Play Science Institute, we believe:
Play leads development.
Play IS learning.
Play fosters well-being.
Play is the leading activity of development. This means that during play, children’s development is maximized. Development is the process of growth and maturation that all humans experience from birth through adolescence. Russian psychologist Lev Vygotsky documented how play leads development during childhood. Thus, if the goal of childhood is to foster optimal whole-child development, then we must let the children play.
Play is how children learn best, but it is often treated as a break from “real learning”. We know that children construct knowledge from experience, and learning is the acquisition of skills and knowledge. Just as play leads to development, it also provides the best environment for children to acquire skills and learn new knowledge. Learning can be taught by an adult, but learning through self-directed engagement with the environment, driven by intrinsic motivation, is the best type of learning.
Play is a biological necessity that all mammals engage in during the early stages of life. Play is good for the body, the mind, and the soul. Play builds resilience and empathy. Play fosters collaboration and perspective-taking. Autonomy and agency flourish in play. Play is freedom and play is liberation. Psychologist Peter Gray has documented a connection between the decline in child-led free play and a decline in mental health.