Why Can't We Play?

In this workshop, we will uncover and reflect on our dominant discourses around play, building awareness of our own image of play. Together, we deconstruct the HAMALA model, aesthetic novelty (the constant pull towards new displays, materials, and environments), and current approaches to curriculum design and timetabling.

I’ll share findings from my action research on helping families value unstructured play through visual and narrative documentation. I’ll also introduce you to the KO Play Toolkit (TIDE Framework), which explores the adult’s role in facilitating meaningful unstructured play.