INSIGHT

Have we forgotten how to play?

In our quick-moving digital world, have we forgotten the fundamental importance of play? Think about it. How often do you see people playing games outside, rather than being glued to their tablets or phones?

Does this mean we’re losing the important lessons that those games taught people a generation ago? How can we learn interpersonal and soft skills without traditional play?

It's a sign of the times, but I argue that all is not lost and we may not yet fully realise the power of digital play.

By Justin Eames | CEO

Let's talk about 'purposeful games'. These are games that aren’t just about having fun. Purposeful games go a step further. They're about learning new things, training for real-life situations, and empowering us all to make our lives better.  Games like these aren't new, but they're becoming more important than ever, especially post COVID. 

In a world where technology is at our fingertips, purposeful games blend the fun of playing with the benefits of learning. They can be anything from a mobile app that teaches language skills, to a complex simulation that trains doctors to perform surgery. The possibilities and applications for purposeful games are endless.

Navigo - a purposeful game that teaches vocabulary through games and adventure

But why does this matter? Well, as we'll see later, the way we play has a big impact on how we learn and grow. And in a digital age, purposeful games are key to balancing screen time with meaningful learning experiences. 

So, let's go deeper into how play has evolved and why purposeful games are now such an important part of learning, training, and personal development.

The evolution of play

Play isn't just about having fun; it's been a crucial part of learning and development for thousands of years. It’s something we evolved to do, just as we see animals do too. 

Ever watched kittens pounce or puppies chase around a park? They're not just playing; they're learning vital skills for survival, like hunting and social interaction. They’re testing boundaries, learning who’s in charge and how to be in charge of others (or otherwise do what they're told). This isn't much different from how children learn through play, developing not just their bodies but their brains too.

Historically, play was seen as essential. Parents and societies valued it as more than just a way to keep children busy. Traditional games like tag or rounders weren't just for entertainment. They taught children how to work together, solve problems, and understand each other's emotions.

These activities were crucial for developing what we now call 'soft skills' - things like teamwork, communication, and empathy.

Look back 50 years and children were forced to be independent; playtime happened organically and usually on the streets, in parks or fields. There were no adults to organise and referee play. Things weren’t always fair and the boundaries of play were pushed. Children learned tough lessons quickly and sometimes brutally.

Society has changed and that’s not how we generally feel play should work these days. So the rise of technology and a growing emphasis on academic success began to squeeze playtime out of children's routines from around the 1990s.

Source: Save the Children.

Playgrounds became quieter as living rooms filled with the sounds of video games. Around that time many parents started to see unsupervised play as a distraction from 'real' learning, something to be squeezed into the margins of homework and extracurricular activities.

Now we realise that view was misinformed. Those unorganised games played a vital role in children's development. They were about more than just fun; they were training grounds for life. 

To have just 27% of children playing outside today compared to 80% in the past represents a huge change to the nature of childhood experiences. It's logical to expect this to have consequences for young people’s development. As a society we're perhaps not taking seriously enough.

Helen Dodd, Professor of Child Psychology at University of Exeter

Through play, children learned to negotiate rules, take turns, and manage conflicts - skills that are as important in the adult world as they are in the playground. Only now, and very much since COVID, are we starting to see a resurgence in the appreciation of play's value, but in a new form. 

Like it or not, digital games are taking the place of playground games, offering new avenues for learning and development, only the terms and environments are different. But the core lesson remains the same: play is crucial for learning. 

Parents, educators, trainers and institutions must continue to embrace these new forms of play and make sure we remember that the lessons from play in the past can still be found in the digital games people play today.

Digital playtime

Have digital games stolen the important lesson from traditional play?

There's no denying it; screentime fills our lives, for both children and adults. It seems we’re all more likely to engage with a smartphone than head outside for some traditional away from screen fun.

Purposeful games are making a significant move into educational settings and professional training environments. Schools are increasingly embracing these games as tools for learning, recognising how they can make complex subjects accessible and engaging for students.

For instance, Roblox, traditionally seen as a platform for entertainment, is now targeting classroom use. It aims to tap into its vast potential for creativity and problem-solving by offering ring fenced, safe spaces where students can engage in interactive learning experiences.

Roblox has a classroom initiative

This move highlights a broader trend where digital games and simulations are being used to enhance education and professional training, offering realistic scenarios and hands-on experiences that traditional methods can't match.

Purposeful games are making a significant move into educational settings and professional training environments. Schools are increasingly embracing these games as tools for learning, recognising how they can make complex subjects accessible and engaging for students.  

For instance, Roblox, traditionally seen as a platform for entertainment, is now targeting classroom use. It aims to tap into its vast potential for creativity and problem-solving by offering ring fenced, safe spaces where students can engage in interactive learning experiences.

This move highlights a broader trend where digital games and simulations are being used to enhance education and professional training, offering realistic scenarios and hands-on experiences that traditional methods can't match.

Play in professional training

Purposeful games are revolutionising professional training. In fields ranging from retail to healthcare, simulations and games are not just useful; they're transforming how skills are learned.

Take 'digital twins', for example. This technology creates virtual replicas of physical systems or environments, allowing professionals to test scenarios without the risk or cost of real-world trials.

For example, retailers like Walmart use digital twins to design, test and refine store layouts by simulating the habits of shoppers within digital versions of their stores. Designers can experiment and ‘play’ with the environment until they reach a ‘win state’ - one where the store is laid out optimally for customers.

Walmart use digital twins to design, test and refine store layouts by simulating the habits of shoppers within digital versions of their stores

Similarly, in the medical field, simulations provide a safe space for surgeons to practise procedures, significantly reducing the stakes of learning on the job.

Emergency scenario training is another area where play in the form of simulations is invaluable. Firefighters, police officers, and paramedics can experience complex, dangerous situations in a controlled, virtual environment. This kind of training is crucial, offering hands-on experience without the real-world risk, preparing professionals for the unpredictability of their jobs with as much realism and as little consequence as possible.

This modern approach to professional training through play and simulations reflects a broader understanding of how we learn best: by doing. Whether it's a pilot navigating a flight simulator or a city planner experimenting with urban layouts in a digital twin, the essence of play as a learning tool remains the same. It's about exploring, experimenting, and evolving our skills in a way that's engaging, effective, and above all, safe.

The societal value of play

The COVID pandemic and the resulting lockdowns brought unprecedented challenges to societies worldwide, isolating millions and drastically altering our daily lives. Yet, in this time of physical distancing, digital play emerged as a vital lifeline, underscoring its significant societal value. It kept us connected when physical meetings were impossible, provided an outlet for stress, and offered unique learning opportunities amidst widespread disruption.

Multiplayer digital games like Roblox, Fortnite and Minecraft, plus many others, played a crucial role in maintaining social connections. Platforms that hosted team games became virtual meeting places, where friends and families could interact.

Schools and universities, too, turned to digital tools and game-based learning platforms, such as Scoodleplay, to keep students engaged, demonstrating that education could continue outside traditional classrooms.

Scoodleplay is a gamified learning management system (LMS) used in European schools

The pandemic highlighted how digital play could do more than entertain; it could educate, connect, and compensate for (if not replace) the loss of in-person activities.

Learning management systems, that were previously a useful administrative tool, became the hub around which schools distributed lessons and provided feedback to students.  

Embracing change

Challenging though it is, it’s now important for us all to stop assuming that digital play is time wasted. There’s so much evidence that proves the power of purposeful games in learning and development that it can’t be ignored.

Let’s redefine how we think about play and its place in a healthy, balanced society. Digital play is not a replacement for traditional play or physical interaction, but an important and powerful complement to it.