Focus is on the process, and participants exercise abundant
agency and autonomy over how the activity unfolds
Real Play
Play-Like
The activity is
chosen and
directed by a
nonparticipant
who also decides
when it ends
Is An Activity
Real Play,
Play-Like,
Or Not Play?
Not Play
The activity is
chosen and
directed by
participants who
can quit when
they want
Play-Like
Focus is on a specific outcome, and participants exercise
little agency and autonomy over how the activity unfolds
Created by Explorations Early Learning for Playvolution HQ—V 2.0 | Revised October 2023