So what is adaptive play?

It is extremely difficult to find a definition of adaptive play. Probably the best thing to do is to define each word or at least chose definitions that encompass what I believe to be the most significant.

Adaptive
· having a capacity for adaptation; "the adaptive coloring of a chameleon" wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn
· Adaptive behavior is a type of behavior that is used to adjust to another type of behavior or situation. This is often characterized by a kind of behavior that allows an individual to substitute an unconstructive or disruptive behavior to something more constructive. ...en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adaptive
· Of, pertaining to, characterized by or showing adaptation; making or made fit or suitable; Capable of being adapted or of adapting; susceptible of or undergoing accordant change; Of a trait: that helps an individual to function well in societyen.wiktionary.org/wiki/adaptive
· Adaptivity - The term “adaptivity” characterizes a computer system that adapts itself to changes in user-related or environmental characteristics. Such automatically performed adaptations base on the evaluation of the user behaviour and assumed user needs, or taking explicit user input into account. ...

Play

· participate in games or sport; "We played hockey all afternoon"; "play cards"; "Pele played for the Brazilian teams in many important matches"
· play on an instrument; "The band played all night long"
· act: play a role or part; "Gielgud played Hamlet"; "She wants to act Lady Macbeth, but she is too young for the role"; "She played the servant to her husband's master"
· be at play; be engaged in playful activity; amuse oneself in a way characteristic of children; "The kids were playing outside all day"; "I used to play with trucks as a little girl"
· perform music on (a musical instrument); "He plays the flute"; "Can you play on this old recorder?"
· act: pretend to have certain qualities or state of mind; "He acted the idiot"; "She plays deaf when the news are bad"
· bet or wager (money); "He played £20 on the new horse"; "She plays the races"
· engage in recreational activities rather than work; occupy oneself in a diversion; "On weekends I play"; "The students all recreate alike"
· pretend to be somebody in the framework of a game or playful activity; "Let's play like I am mommy"; "Play cowboy and Indians"
· emit recorded sound; "The tape was playing for hours"; "the stereo was playing Beethoven when I entered"
· perform on a certain location; "The prodigy played Carnegie Hall at the age of 16"; "She has been playing on Broadway for years"
· put (a card or piece) into play during a game, or act strategically as if in a card game; "He is playing his cards close to his chest"; "The Democrats still have some cards to play before they will concede the electoral victory"

‘Play is freely chosen; personally directed, intrinsically motivatedbehaviour that actively engages the child…Play can be fun or serious.Through play children explore social, material and imaginary worlds andtheir relationship with them, elaborating all the while a flexible range ofresponses to the challenges they encounter.’
Best Play - Children’s Play Council, NPFA, and PLAYLINK

So adaptive play could be defined as the adjustment of behaviour to complete tasks. Obviously, careful development of these tasks can help maintain engagement in a fun and immersive manner, something that has not been missed by the computer games industry or by educational establishments.

"Tell me and I forget, show me and I may remember, play with me and I understand.."~adapted from a Chinese proverb