Jenkins and Play

I decided to utilize the Play we did in class for this assignment.

The Six P’s:
Permission: In order to play you must give yourself permission to do so.

I think this is one of the P’s that I think is very key to play when you are no longer a kid. While there is still the deciding factor and permission aspect of play as a kid, when it is not what you are doing on a regular basis, there is and was a lot more of a permission process. I think this was most prevalent when we engaged in play in class following this reading. The experience was different than playing with a kid, and I think that us all having to really give ourselves permission to do created a playful interaction that is different than any other typical interaction we’d had as a group. Even though we are a class where we play games and do purposeful play activities on the regular, giving ourselves the permission to play and not thinking about it as an assignment really changed the way the activity worked.

Process: The process of play is what makes it fun and what makes it play, and that you need to be aware of the process that is happening.

Passion:  Passion brings in learning and an expansion of knowledge when playing.

Productivity: Play allows for creativity and the transformation of your surroundings.

While we were playing in the hallway, I feel as though there was a lot of productivity and expansion of knowledge. For myself, I utilized the materials and created a slingshot, and also worked to balance a castle made of cards. As the play went on I took the rubber band which had been holding the box together and utilized it to create a new toy itself. This represents Jenkins explanation of how play allows for the transformation of items in one's surroundings.I  I feel as this is one of my favorite aspects of play, both as a participant in it and as an observer.

Participation: Play is social and requires participation. As a youth Worker it is key to observe the participation in Play.

Throughout our play in the hall, while we ultimately split up into multiple groups, everyone was participating in the play and with others at all times. 

Pleasure: Pleasure is key to play. As a Youth worker, aim to bring in play that is open ended and provides pleasure for everyone.