On Play

Beskrivelse

Play is a vital part of human life, and this book explores its true value beyond just being a tool or task. It challenges the idea of play as something purely functional, emphasizing that play is meaningful in its own right.

Exploring play through the lens of mood and experience.

On Play dives into the concept of mood to understand play better, breaking it down into three key aspects: the play media (the objects we use to play), the play practices (the actions and ways we express ourselves during play), and the play moods (the unique feelings of engagement we get while playing).

This perspective reveals a deep link between what we play with, how we play, and what we feel during play. For example, children select certain play media, interact with them in specific ways, and through this process, they enter a playful mood.

The book introduces several terms to help observe these moods, which can be used as tools for understanding play or as guidelines when planning educational play activities, organizing workplace events, or designing playful experiences.

By focusing on mood, On Play offers fresh insights into the nature of play and its presence everywhere. It celebrates creativity, variety, and those spontaneous bursts of fun. The book suggests that while "bad play" fades away on its own, "good play" continues because it resonates with those involved.

Grounded in extensive fieldwork with children, the theory is richly supported by real-life examples. Readers get to see how play thrives in everyday settings-at school, home, with grandparents, and in all the spaces in between where children’s lives unfold.

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