PLAY-/plā/-engage in activity for enjoyment and recreation rather than a serious or practical purpose.
We recently celebrated Global School Day of Play! The Summit joined thousands of schools all over the globe participating in a day dedicated to unstructured, screen-free play for all students. At The Summit, we celebrate learning on a daily basis, but we are excited to help spread the word that play is more than just fun.
Second grade students had access to many objects of play throughout the day, including creativity, movement, imagination, music, building, sensory, and more. Even though we were confined to our classroom space, we were able to participate in many activities.
Here are the guidelines we followed for our Global Day of Play:
- Play is self-chosen and self-directed.
- Play is activity in which means are more valued than ends.
- Play has structure, or rules, which are not dictated by physical necessity but emanate from the minds of the players.
- Play is imaginative, non-literal, mentally removed in some way from “real” or “serious” life.
- Play involves an active, alert, but non-stressed frame of mind.
Would you like to learn more about the importance of play? Check out these great resources:
- Dr. Stuart Brown’s “Play is More Than Just Fun” Ted Talk
- Play Helps Build a Better Brain – NPR
- How to Bring Playfulness to High School Students – MindShift
Click here to view pictures from this year’s Kindergarten, first and second grade Day of Play!
