Play Types - Part 1
Submitted by Rebecca Smith from Family Ties Association
Did you know that when a child plays, their play can be categorized into different play types? Bob Hughes (2002) spent time observing children’s play and noticed that play can typically be identified into 16 different types of play. You may be asking yourself, “okay, well that’s neat but why should I care?” Well, knowing these different play types can help you understand a little bit more how children develop mentally, emotionally, and physically through play. Plus, if you are someone who works with children or has children, you can bring in elements of these play types to help foster stronger play.
It should be noted that even though Hughes (2002) play types model is most commonly used, it is not the ‘be-all-end-all’ to play types; play types are always being observed and other types are being added/modified. That being said and for a little light learning, we are going to spend the next 2 posts by me going over these 16 play types. Hopefully, this two-part post can help you observe your children’s play theme and/or help with planning new play opportunities for your children. Let’s dig in with the first eight play types!
Communication Play. As the name suggests, when children are engaging in communication play they are trying to connect to one another through the use of words, signals, noises, and/or the use of verbal and non-verbal body language. You see a child’s whole body become alive when this play is activated. Examples of this play are: children creating a dance, singing a made-up song, creating a story, telling jokes or doing impressions, and/or writing poetry.
Creative Play. Creative play allows children to use their spontaneity, imagination, and artistic sides to come up with something new. There are often elements of surprise, mess, and of course bending of traditional rules - anything is possible with creative play. Children in creative play tend to be drawn to arts and craft materials and use their curiosity to use these materials in new ways. Creative play can be painting a picture to using string, glue, and sticks to create a picture.
Deep Play. When children are in deep play, you will likely see them playing out risky, dangerous, and challenging experiences; it is good to note that these risky play scenes will be seen as “risky” through the child’s eyes and not always yours (walking on a wobbly log on the ground vs. climbing to the top of a 20-foot tree). What might children get out of this play you may ask; well, through this play children are able to develop survival skills and practice conquering or managing their fears. Typically, deep play is seen more often in older children, but younger children begin to explore this deep play as they go through new developmental levels. Some examples of deep play are: children climbing up the slide, play ‘chicken’ with cars on the road, engaging in truth or dare, climbing trees, and/or spending time in the dark.
Dramatic Play. Dramatic play occurs when children re-creates experiences from other’s lives (that of lives that they have read about, watched on tv, or generally heard about) and have not actually experienced for themselves. Children may bring in elements of fantasy and imagination during this play. For example, a child might play out a funeral, but have never attended one or play out being a famous hockey player, but has never played hockey. In dramatic play, costumes or dress-up outfits are common to help children embody their character.
Exploratory Play. Exploratory play is basically done on a daily basis by children; it involves children learning about and finding out about the world they live in through curiosity and manipulation. When a child looks to see what is under a log, takes a part a phone to see how its built, or asks to help ‘fix something’ – they are engaging in exploratory play. As children get older, their exploratory play becomes more complex.
Fantasy Play. Fantasy play allows children to bring in elements, experiences, and characters which aren’t real or very unlikely to occur such as unicorns, super heroes, dragons, flying cars, and/or speaking animals. During this play, children are developing a boundary between what is real and what is not. Some also say this play is an outlet for the unconscious and different areas of imagination to run free.
Imaginative Play. Imaginative play, unlike fantasy play, is based in reality but has elements of experiences not being real. That is, typical rules do not apply to the realistic aspects in this play. Examples of this play you may see are: children pretending to be an animal, having a tea party with no actual tea cups, or having a make-believe friend to play with.
Locomotor Play. Locomotor play or sometimes called physical activity play is engaging in movements for the sake moving. When children are engaging in running, skipping, chasing, leaping, hopping, jumping, wiggling their arms and/or climbing, locomotor play is present. From all the movement, Hughes (2002) believed that children are increasing their understanding of the environment in relation to their bodies and sense of safety.
Well, those are the first eight play types I will share – in hopes of not overwhelming you and allowing this information to soak in. Have fun seeing what play types you recognize in your children – and get ready for the next eight play types next month!
Sources:
Hughes, B. (2002) A Playworker's Taxonomy of Play Types. 2nd Edition, Play Education
Image: https://www.pexels.com/photo/girl-in-yellow-dress-playing-doctor-with-a-boy-in-striped-shirt-8612922/