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The Compass: Why We Play: Childhood: Exploring the world through play

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Childhood: Exploring the world through play

12/01/2022 GMT

Why We Play

BBC World Service - The Compass, Why We Play, Childhood: Exploring the world through play

How play is crucial to building our understanding of our surroundings, culture and self

How play is crucial to building our understanding of our surroundings, culture and identity.

In the earliest years of our lives, play is crucial to building our understanding of our surroundings, culture and even ourselves. The UN considers play to be a fundamental right for every child, and a growing body of interdisciplinary research is leading to greater implementation across the globe. But how do we begin to define something that is so intrinsic to our human nature?

We look into the very beginnings of play and how our first interactions with adults have a lasting impact on the way we deal with later life. In Bangladesh, we drop in on Play Labs run by international development organisation BRAC which works to empower preschool children in deprived and fragile communities.

We learn about a Boston elementary school which uses guided recess – not only to keep kids physically and mentally well, but to teach them skills such as conflict resolution and leadership. How does play in those first few years of life affect the way we communicate, engage with, and understand the world? What’s at stake if we lose out?

Presenter: Steffan Powell 
Producer: Amelia Parker

The Compass: Why We Play

As we take our first steps into the world, playing is how we explore and understand it.

Play is universal across human cultures and time. Most mammals play, even into adulthood, but it’s an evolutionary puzzle: at best, time spent playing looks like time wasted; at worst, having your attention diverted by play puts you at risk of being eaten by a predator. But humans are the pre-eminent playful species, from babies’ rattles through to bridge clubs for seniors. It’s claimed that play makes us creative, helps us select mates, and staves off cognitive decline. This series looks at play across cultures, through time, and during the course of a single human life.  It’s a universally-relevant exploration of why play is both the most joyful and the most serious part of all of us.

Image: An adult passes a child a plastic brick (Credit: Getty Creative)

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