0:00:10.413,0:00:11.803
Hello everybody.

0:00:13.093,0:00:18.363
I'm here to talk about lifelong play[br]and why it matters.

0:00:19.684,0:00:23.863
We typically attach play to childhood.

0:00:24.903,0:00:29.773
Playing is something children like to do.

0:00:30.273,0:00:33.163
All around the world, across cultures.

0:00:34.083,0:00:38.313
It is the activity of play[br]that children enjoy.

0:00:38.313,0:00:41.833
With no other necessarily real purpose.

0:00:42.123,0:00:45.053
Just play matters.

0:00:45.883,0:00:49.273
In play children engage

0:00:49.593,0:00:52.183
and very often also create

0:00:53.373,0:00:57.443
different roles, different scenarios,

0:00:57.443,0:01:02.863
they use different types of tools, [br]costumes, equipments.

0:01:03.724,0:01:06.554
A stick can become a rocket;

0:01:06.774,0:01:10.085
under the table there may be a lion cave;

0:01:10.645,0:01:13.034
or a doctor's appointment.

0:01:13.894,0:01:20.865
Children invest so much energy[br]often in play and concentration

0:01:21.164,0:01:27.326
that a boy, for example, [br]who cannot sit still in a classroom

0:01:27.326,0:01:29.426
for less than a minute,

0:01:29.426,0:01:35.286
can stay still for 20 minutes[br]acting as a rock in a play.

0:01:37.009,0:01:40.014
Also our son, we were on a holiday,

0:01:40.014,0:01:43.778
he's six years old, there were no playmates.

0:01:44.378,0:01:48.588
Suddenly, there was a Norwegian boy,[br]a little bit older than him,

0:01:49.248,0:01:52.367
and we saw them just playing together.

0:01:52.527,0:01:56.447
Very shortly he just ran to us,[br]just to say that,

0:01:56.657,0:02:01.501
"Hey! We created a finger language.[br]This is going very well!"

0:02:04.488,0:02:09.087
Play is such an important part[br]of children's lives,

0:02:09.087,0:02:12.572
and I think we all agree[br]that so is the case.

0:02:12.592,0:02:16.579
Play is a very good way[br]to spend your time.

0:02:17.369,0:02:21.269
In my talk I would like to extend[br]our thinking

0:02:21.332,0:02:29.263
and stress that we may not think how[br]important play is for human development,

0:02:29.713,0:02:32.772
and not only for the children

0:02:33.752,0:02:37.542
but for all of us across our lives.

0:02:38.742,0:02:46.363
In adulthood there are many professions[br]that are considered "not playful",

0:02:46.905,0:02:49.005
or having nothing to do with play.

0:02:49.375,0:02:52.376
Only creative professions

0:02:52.376,0:02:56.726
are usually considered to have [br]some sort of element of play.

0:02:58.006,0:03:03.116
Being a professor of education, like me,

0:03:03.116,0:03:09.255
is not actually a profession that [br]is considered to be that "playful".[br]

0:03:09.435,0:03:12.336
Actually, we are considered pretty boring.

0:03:12.496,0:03:16.426
And we're considered as knowledge workers,

0:03:16.676,0:03:20.446
who are seldom invited to give public talks.

0:03:20.446,0:03:22.546
We usually just give talks to each other

0:03:22.586,0:03:25.577
because we are a little bit boring.

0:03:26.237,0:03:28.773
However, I must tell you a secret:

0:03:29.473,0:03:33.777
I consider my job to be "highly playful".

0:03:34.477,0:03:39.509
Whereas artists and other creative people

0:03:39.509,0:03:45.409
use paint or clay to create [br]some new things to the world,

0:03:45.919,0:03:50.027
I use the knowledge that I've learned

0:03:50.487,0:03:52.957
and I "play" with that knowledge

0:03:52.957,0:03:56.997
in order to create a better understanding[br]of a particular phenomenon.

0:03:58.027,0:04:01.878
I follow the rules of the game[br]as we all must,

0:04:01.968,0:04:06.788
just like kids must follow rules[br]to create something new,

0:04:06.788,0:04:08.617
in order to make it justifiable.

0:04:09.497,0:04:15.715
I've learnt how to challenge the rules[br]of the game, when I am good enough,

0:04:15.715,0:04:19.285
and modify or even make new rules, as well.

0:04:20.255,0:04:23.268
This is what "play" is for me.

0:04:24.928,0:04:28.750
I've been reading lately a lot about play

0:04:28.750,0:04:32.530
and also about play in adulthood.

0:04:33.670,0:04:37.548
And it is actually interesting to discover[br]

0:04:37.548,0:04:43.188
commonalities among adults and professionals

0:04:43.188,0:04:46.758
who have a very successful career.

0:04:46.758,0:04:53.190
Or among those who are very happy in life,

0:04:53.190,0:04:58.730
despite not necessarily achieving[br]professionaly the best position in society,

0:04:58.730,0:05:04.020
but who feel comfortable with[br]whatever they do or wherever they go.

0:05:05.249,0:05:09.150
These people seem to share the power of play.

0:05:09.520,0:05:13.451
They seem to keep playing [br]some sort of game.

0:05:15.751,0:05:18.180
This person is very famous.

0:05:18.320,0:05:21.829
We also see the same here in Finland

0:05:21.829,0:05:26.090
like President Obama playing basketball.

0:05:26.090,0:05:32.760
In Finland we see President Sauli Niinistö[br]in Käpylä ice rink

0:05:33.231,0:05:37.521
playing ice hockey with young children,[br]teenagers and adults.

0:05:38.501,0:05:43.061
Sure, we've many hobbies, play activities,

0:05:43.421,0:05:46.400
but sport is a very typical activity

0:05:46.400,0:05:51.860
to both successful achievers [br]and happy adults.

0:05:53.242,0:05:57.498
Yes, there're many professions[br]which are considered dead serious,

0:05:57.758,0:06:01.122
but it's interesting to see [br]how they also play:

0:06:01.162,0:06:02.702
Wearing a wig,

0:06:03.352,0:06:04.522
(Laughter)

0:06:04.792,0:06:09.513
being taken seriously while dealing [br]with highly serious matters.

0:06:10.193,0:06:13.632
For me, this is just another kind of play.

0:06:14.972,0:06:19.773
Also my point is: It is difficult[br]sometimes even for researchers

0:06:19.773,0:06:24.522
to define what "play" is,

0:06:24.522,0:06:29.242
whether in young children or in adults.

0:06:29.512,0:06:33.401
It's tough and they are still trying hard.

0:06:34.031,0:06:38.243
A question we might ask:[br]what is then "not play"?

0:06:41.972,0:06:49.793
What is the DNA, the mechanisms in play[br]that we researchers know already

0:06:49.923,0:06:58.401
why play produces learning,[br]why play produces and advances society,

0:06:58.663,0:07:03.364
and why play is good for us,[br]for our well-being and happiness.

0:07:04.744,0:07:09.734
There's ample research available,[br]globally, about play.

0:07:10.254,0:07:17.824
Neuroscientists, educationalists,[br]sociologists, health scientists.

0:07:18.304,0:07:23.365
I could continue listing the different[br]disciplines that have researched play.

0:07:24.085,0:07:27.425
And they all have come to the conclusion

0:07:27.805,0:07:32.234
that one of the key elements [br]that actually happen in play is

0:07:32.634,0:07:35.364
that we interact usually with others;

0:07:35.594,0:07:39.225
we engage in social interactions[br]with others;

0:07:39.535,0:07:42.595
we learn to collaborate with others;

0:07:43.035,0:07:48.155
we learn to follow the rules[br]that either we have created,

0:07:48.445,0:07:53.796
or somebody else have created[br]for our joint activities.

0:07:54.546,0:07:58.166
We also learn to create

0:07:58.396,0:08:02.746
and also to create some[br]new meanings together.

0:08:03.476,0:08:07.666
We use that knowledge and experience[br]we already have,

0:08:07.896,0:08:14.165
and apply it in different types of play[br]when we create something new.

0:08:14.995,0:08:19.387
Play is also very important[br]for emotional development.

0:08:19.807,0:08:26.228
We learn to understand our own emotions[br]and the emotions of people around us.

0:08:26.718,0:08:33.756
We learn to control and regulate[br]our own emotions playing with others.

0:08:35.077,0:08:38.186
Play is also very embodied:

0:08:38.556,0:08:44.656
we experience and we put our full body [br]in play activities usually,

0:08:45.066,0:08:48.247
whether sometimes it's physical activity

0:08:48.247,0:08:52.757
or sometimes interacting[br]with other materials used in play.

0:08:54.057,0:08:56.766
Both contribute to our learning.

0:08:57.766,0:09:02.397
In play, we learn both about each other[br]and about our own self;

0:09:03.057,0:09:06.977
we develop our sense of self[br]in play activities

0:09:07.757,0:09:14.457
by learning how others see us[br]and how we see others.

0:09:15.756,0:09:21.578
Thus, identity development's a major part[br]of what play does in young children

0:09:21.968,0:09:26.748
and later in adult life too,[br]if only we would allow ourselves to play.

0:09:28.068,0:09:30.888
Play allows us to grow into communities,

0:09:31.148,0:09:35.779
because as we learn to play the game[br]by knowing the rules and values,

0:09:36.059,0:09:38.759
we are then ready to become [br]more central participants.

0:09:39.238,0:09:42.749
An analogy to this is when[br]we learn a foreign language.

0:09:42.749,0:09:44.669
This occurs even in adulthood.

0:09:46.459,0:09:51.679
So clearly play is very important[br]in all these respects.

0:09:53.039,0:09:55.848
But there is a "dark" side in play,

0:09:56.158,0:09:59.259
like any human activity has a dark side.

0:10:00.009,0:10:07.490
Say this child in the picture[br]has an iPad, has toys, LEGO's.

0:10:08.000,0:10:11.347
He is building, he is documenting,[br]he is sharing.

0:10:12.147,0:10:15.800
Do all children have[br]these opportunities to play?

0:10:16.890,0:10:25.459
All humans have the capacity to play,[br]but do they have the resources to play with?

0:10:26.490,0:10:32.390
A child living in a very affluent family[br]with lots of expensive toys,

0:10:32.530,0:10:36.261
with lots of rich discussions[br]at the dinner table

0:10:36.261,0:10:38.891
about politics, about media

0:10:38.891,0:10:43.031
about recent happenings,[br]about Olympic games --

0:10:43.491,0:10:50.441
This kid soon builds on these experiences,[br]acting them out in his play scenarios.

0:10:50.971,0:10:55.561
But what about children[br]from more disadvantaged families?

0:10:57.091,0:11:01.291
Can they use that type of knowledge[br]and resources in their play

0:11:01.661,0:11:04.371
to practice to grow into a society?

0:11:06.731,0:11:08.361
Can they play?

0:11:08.791,0:11:11.260
How early do they have to work?

0:11:12.248,0:11:14.049
All this happens.

0:11:15.159,0:11:20.779
It is also very important to understand [br]that, while we play,

0:11:20.779,0:11:25.209
be it children or adults, [br]we are also creating the future.

0:11:25.629,0:11:29.328
And by positioning each other [br]into different roles,[br]

0:11:29.578,0:11:34.339
we may learn about ourselves [br]and what we're capable of,[br]

0:11:34.949,0:11:40.680
and sometimes, in some play activities, [br]this may limit our possibilities,

0:11:41.090,0:11:47.778
so understanding the interactions [br]that go on in play is very important.

0:11:48.488,0:11:56.949
We mustn't fall into the trap[br]of cultural or gender stereotyping.

0:11:57.438,0:12:00.689
Ask yourselves: What are the tools and toys [br]the children are using?

0:12:01.059,0:12:09.528
Are the kids taught about stereotyping[br]when they position each other in roles?

0:12:10.660,0:12:14.311
These are questions [br]that we need to be aware of.

0:12:15.241,0:12:21.219
And I think that creating conditions [br]where everybody can play,

0:12:21.739,0:12:24.910
and where play is given an opportunity

0:12:25.040,0:12:29.760
to flourish in equal terms[br]is highly important.

0:12:31.050,0:12:34.211
And I think many people[br]are now recognizing this,

0:12:34.211,0:12:37.541
and there is this wave of interest in play

0:12:37.881,0:12:40.441
throughout the life course.

0:12:40.751,0:12:46.550
Many organizations,[br]educational institutions, workplaces

0:12:46.550,0:12:49.260
are developing different practices

0:12:49.260,0:12:54.199
that model these ingredients[br]and learning mechanisms

0:12:54.199,0:12:57.479
that take place in play.

0:12:57.479,0:12:58.902
This is important.

0:12:59.522,0:13:06.001
Unfortunately, at the moment [br]we know that globally,

0:13:06.001,0:13:13.971
education fails to provide[br]play for creative opportunities

0:13:13.971,0:13:16.153
for children or young people.

0:13:16.733,0:13:22.529
As the Finnish philosopher[br]Esa Saarinen says,

0:13:22.529,0:13:24.092
and I believe he is right,

0:13:24.522,0:13:30.812
he says that there are[br]many people who work hard,

0:13:30.812,0:13:35.002
and who are very enthusiastic [br]in what they do.

0:13:35.652,0:13:38.982
Unfortunately, most of them [br]are under seven.

0:13:39.472,0:13:40.652
(Laughter)

0:13:41.982,0:13:43.743
I think he is right.

0:13:44.033,0:13:48.124
And in our work at Helsinki University

0:13:48.124,0:13:51.774
and in many other places[br]in Finland and globally,

0:13:51.824,0:13:58.163
there are great efforts being made[br]that try to bring play

0:13:58.733,0:14:01.863
and playful learning into life,

0:14:01.863,0:14:08.203
creating conditions for playful learning[br]is seen as extremely important.

0:14:08.803,0:14:12.453
What does this look like? [br]What does it mean?

0:14:12.614,0:14:15.293
Is it just sugar-coating education?

0:14:15.293,0:14:19.393
Is it making educational workplaces [br]just fun places to be?[br]

0:14:20.683,0:14:28.534
We all know it's a tough task, requiring[br]a lot of cross-disciplinary research.

0:14:28.893,0:14:31.234
One discipline alone cannot solve this.

0:14:31.594,0:14:39.235
All of us must join in this effort[br]to create opportunities for play

0:14:39.235,0:14:45.924
that are meaningful, [br]that really create learning that lasts.[br]

0:14:45.964,0:14:53.965
That improve rather than hinder one's [br]learning journey, happiness curve or life.

0:14:54.485,0:14:56.594
This is very important.

0:14:56.974,0:15:03.475
We need to, not only look at young [br]children, but also the elderly.[br]

0:15:03.805,0:15:07.374
As you could see in the first slide [br]of my presentation,

0:15:07.674,0:15:09.984
I had this picture of an elderly person.

0:15:10.304,0:15:14.894
Play is very important [br]for the elderly as well:

0:15:14.894,0:15:19.744
feeling engaged, being part [br]of the digital society,

0:15:19.744,0:15:27.045
being an active citizen [br]is very important for your whole life.

0:15:28.285,0:15:33.837
Hence, in my own research unit we've been[br]focused in creating playful opportunities.

0:15:34.107,0:15:40.824
Our mission is to help student teachers,[br]future teachers to re-learn to play,

0:15:41.484,0:15:46.587
so that they know how to engage[br]in play activities with their students.

0:15:47.147,0:15:53.766
We have a lab where we create, [br]and co-create with different partners,

0:15:54.506,0:16:02.876
from work, industry, educationalists,[br]learning scientists, game designers.

0:16:03.207,0:16:10.136
Together we create different types[br]of activities to test if they achieve

0:16:11.096,0:16:15.106
the learning and play we want to see.

0:16:16.476,0:16:24.786
Our lab is very different from[br]the other classrooms in our university.

0:16:25.666,0:16:33.127
When trying to invite kids [br]and students to our lab,

0:16:33.977,0:16:38.278
which is well-designed and supportive[br]not only of the social practices

0:16:38.278,0:16:42.078
but also the material spaces where play [br]and learning can happen,[br]

0:16:42.508,0:16:45.288
we've often been surprised to find [br]that the space has been reserved![br]

0:16:45.548,0:16:50.499
And I have discovered, actually, [br]that our university administration,

0:16:50.499,0:16:55.509
and even the Heads are using this [br]for their own meetings.

0:16:56.229,0:17:00.178
So we're fighting over the space.

0:17:01.478,0:17:05.278
You need spaces but[br]you need wise knowledge

0:17:05.748,0:17:12.589
to create those social activities[br]that promote play and learning.

0:17:13.240,0:17:15.717
This is a serious challenge

0:17:16.017,0:17:18.667
and I also challenge you.

0:17:20.497,0:17:25.733
I want to end my talk by saying

0:17:26.433,0:17:32.033
that although we do not yet know[br]exactly how to define "play",

0:17:32.463,0:17:36.884
we know that there are very important [br]processes and elements going on.

0:17:37.494,0:17:42.914
We need to consider[br]and take play seriously.

0:17:43.684,0:17:48.664
I encourage you to keep or start playing,

0:17:49.194,0:17:52.624
and try to remember to create

0:17:52.624,0:17:57.924
in your own areas and communities[br]a playful attitude,

0:17:58.524,0:18:01.744
playful opportunities for everybody.

0:18:02.474,0:18:08.753
Playful learning and lifelong play[br]is in our hands.

0:18:09.093,0:18:10.075
Thank you.

0:18:10.455,0:18:13.034
(Applause)