Play and Learning
I am combining here the thoughts on play and learning. To truly learn something we need to understand it fully. To do this we need to play with the idea or thing. Knowing what it is and what it isn’t, how it functions, it’s strengths and weaknesses as well as its purpose is one of the best ways to truly know something. It’s the natural way that children learn (think experimenting with walking - balance, falling, etc.). It’s also learning through experience which is one of the most effective ways of creating a lasting lesson that can easily be recalled or used.
I’ve been searching out more ideas surrounding play and in doing so I found a book by Todd Hargrove called “Playing With Movement” (a book about exercise). He categorises play as:
Play is:
intrinsically motivating
not too stressful
exploratory
creative
tinkering
involves risk
So if I learn an idea, I need to use play to fully explore it. Find out how it works and be motivated to even take the time to do it. If I really know what it is, then I should also be able to fully explain it (see “A thought on learning” post) as well as knowing how to use or apply it.
Todd Hargrove also brought up some interesting comparisons between play and work. His thought is that we need a combination of both to produce the best results. Just lifting weights in a gym will only develop certain muscles, just as only practicing a sport without training will not give us an edge either. A child will learn to walk by themselves, but encouragement or other forms of help (holding a hand, placing two object close by to move between, etc.) will speed up the process and can still be enjoyable as long as the right atmosphere is there. There is alway room for a combination of both.
Social interaction also helps to motivate us as well. Encouragement from others, gets us to push further and take risks. Healthy competition can also help us strive to improve. Being part of a functioning team can help to motivate us to be our best, as there is a greater purpose involved than that of our own personal gain. Groups also provide social accountability and camaraderie that can motivate too. It’s not always necessary but it can help.