Playing Games?

Defintion: Game

A game is a structured activity, usually undertaken for enjoyment and sometimes used as an educational tool. Games are distinct from work, which is usually carried out for remuneration, and from art, which is more concerned with the expression of ideas. However, the distinction is not clear-cut, and many games are also considered to be work (such as professional players of spectator sports/games) or art (such as jigsaw puzzles or games involving an artistic layout such as Mahjong solitaire).
Key components of games are goals, rules, challenge, and interaction. Games generally involve mental or physical stimulation, and often both. Many games help develop practical skills, serve as a form of exercise, or otherwise perform an educational, simulational or psychological role.

What is Play ?

Definition:

One of the ways children learn about themselves, the people around them, their environment and their community.
it's an essential part of every child’s life and important to their development.
through play, children learn to explore the world around them, develop and practice skills they will use throughout their lives.

Play is defined as behaviour that is freely chosen, personally directed and intrinsically motivated.

Clarification:

Freely chosen
means that or as free as is practicable given the constraints of the safety of the child.

Personally directed
is a process of trial and error; short cutting this process e.g. telling a child the ‘right way’ to hold a paint brush will deny children many of these first hand experiences. Wherever possible, the child should be in control of how they play.

Intrinsically motivated
Play is not performed for an external goal or reward. Play Workers should avoid contaminating the play process with their own agenda.

Play is essential for:
physical, emotional and spiritual growth
intellectual and educational development
social and behavioural skills.

A child’s capacity for positive development will be inhibited if denied access to a range of stimulating play opportunities.

Play often, though not always, implies a sense of fun for the child.

So what are the relationships and differences between the concepts of games and play?

Differences

Games

Structured activity
Has rules
Considered work/art?
Not in control of the process (set way)
Has a goal/reward

Play

Unstructured
Rules/no rules
Freedom
Process of trial and error (no set way)
No goal/reward

Similarities/Relationships/links

Undertaken for enjoyment
Educational
Fun
Immersive
Engaging
Challenging
Interactive
Mental/physical stimulation
Develop practical skills
Form of exercise
Awareness of self and others