The Characteristics of Children’s Play

Active

Play must be participated in actively and with no passive notions. The activity must give the body and the mind engagement, otherwise this may lead to a loss of attention and a disinterest with the material.

Pleasurable, Spontaneous, & Enjoyable

This element goes into more detail regarding the meaning a child takes away from a certain activity, in that the means of playing brings the child pleasure and enjoyment. It should not feel strenuous or daunting.

Symbolic & Meaningful

The element of symbolism and meaningfulness during playtime is one that is often overlooked by many. This element communicates that child’s play should entertain their fantasies and be meaningful to them, in that they can interchange certain meanings based on what they experience.

Voluntary & Intrinsically Motivated

This characteristic defines that play must come from within the individual and that “the purpose of the play experience must then be the experience itself” (Criteria for Play, n.d). Ultimately, the motivating factors should be solely decided by the individual.

Freely Chosen

Freely chosen play is defined as an activity or a general action whose means and route is chosen by the child. The same play experience assigned by a teacher to the child would be considered work instead of just the child having the liberal choice.

Controlled by the Child

With the duration of the playtime, the child must dictate the purpose and rules or outline of the chosen activity. If the child maintains control of the activity throughout, this is considered true play.