"Play is the highest form of research", Albert Einstein
Why chasing games?
They are all about practising fear. Through these playful pursuits, children engage in high-energy activities that simulate the adrenaline rush and quick decision-making required in real-life scenarios of danger. This type of play allows them to manage their stress responses, improve their reaction times, and develop strategies to navigate fear-inducing situations. As they run, dodge, and strategize to avoid being caught, children learn to cope with fear and anxiety, building resilience and emotional regulation skills.
Josef Wilhelm Walander, Children Playing
"In play there is something 'at play' which transends the immediate needs of life and imparts meaning to the action."
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André-Henri Dargelas, Hide-and-Seek
Why hide-and-seek?
Hide-and-seek, a cherished childhood game, offers more than mere entertainment; it is a gateway to discovery. In the realm of this timeless pursuit, children flourish, weaving together social bonds, imaginative flights, and cognitive challenges.
At its core, hide-and-seek fosters camaraderie and trust among children. Through whispered strategies and jubilant searches, they learn the art of collaboration and negotiation, forging friendships in the secret corners of their play. Hide-and-seek sparks creativity as children transform ordinary spaces into realms of mystery and adventure.
"Play" as a concept is difficult to define unambiguously; I would suggest adopting an "open definition," whose meanings may vary and even contradict each other depending on the discipline defining it (it is an interesting approach, particularly for complex and multifaceted phenomena like "play" or "culture").
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Some notable characteristics of play include excitement, pleasure, absorption (flow), being fully present, intensity, and expressions of joy and love.
The effects of play often include:
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- discharging superabundant energy
- excercise in restraining your needs (an outlet for harmful impulses)
- wishfulfilment
- relaxing after exertion
- a necessary restorer of energy
- research and discovery (eg. testing out social roles)
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But what is Play in itself? Whether driven by instinct, will, or intellect—whatever underpins it - it is immaterial, meaningful, and transcends physiological and psychological functions. Its intangible, elusive quality plunges us into profound, metaphysical depths.
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It has a profoundly aesthetic quality (Karl Groos, The Play of Man).
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Harry Brooker, Children at Play
Humans play for the sake of playing. It's "autotelic"; the process itself is the primary reward rather than any external outcome. This intrinsic motivation for play is driven by the enjoyment, satisfaction, and engagement experienced during the activity. It allows for creativity, stress relief, social bonding, and the exploration of new ideas and skills in a low-pressure environment.
Play is crucial for the learning process to occur. It is our brain's favorite way learning (Diane Ackerman). It is not only our creative drive; it's a fundemantal mode of learning (David Elkind).
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"It is paradoxical that many educators and parents still differentiate between a time for learning and a time for play without seeing the vital connection between them."
Leo Buscaglia, Living, Loving & Learning
Marmaduke C William Flower, Children at Play
Charles Hunt, Prisoner's Base