Functions of Play

It has usually been assumed that children's play is practice for adult life. However, such play is clearly not direct practice. There is a considerable difference between what occurs in a game and what must happen in direct adaptation. For this reason there is some value in thinking of play as adaptive potentiation. That is, play creates responses that are of potential value rather than direct value for ordinary adaptation.

 

Furthermore, play responses vary considerably in their indirect usefulness. Some play responses are nonsensical or ridiculous, whereas others are more sober forms of skill training. Some things that are learned, such as how to take turns, throw balls, and conform to rules, seem to have a direct transfer to future socialization. Other lessons, such as unique ways of constructing objects or creating imaginary companions, may have value for more innovative future behavior. Thus play and games may prepare the individual for integration into society or for future innovative behavior.

 

In addition to preparing for the future by building up new responses in the player, play and games also seem to increase the flexibility of the player. Because the player is in control he can look at life from a new perspective. He can be silly, serious, sensible, or nonsensical. Only those know sense who also know nonsense; that is, in order to have a firm understanding of something a person must have looked at it from many angles and dealt with it flexibly. Play provides an opportunity to develop many of these flexible responses.

 

The value of this is that it also applies to adult play. Adults presumably are not playing to prepare for the future as much as children are, but adults probably have just as much need to retain a feeling of flexibility about the choices they make.

 

Play also increases the autonomy of the player. There is evidence to show that those who play more are more self-confident and more independent than those who do not play often. Earlier views that play allowed for a discharge of energy or a release of feelings are heard less in modern accounts. But play as a form of voluntary excitement raises the player's level of energy and permits a freedom of expression not possible in other activities.