User:Derek pendrey/sandbox

In 1998, play theorists Sturrock and Else introduced the idea of the Play Cycle which has since been integrated into both playwork theory and practice. In their analysis of the processes involved in play, they introduced an understanding of the play process as containing six elements, and the notion of a “Play Cycle”.

These six elements are Play drive Metalude Play cue Play return Play frame Play annihilation

Children have an innate drive to play, and (according to Oxford City Council’s website) “The metalude is an inner reverie or contemplation that precedes play.” The play cue is the action or trigger to initiate play; play return is the response from the child’s environment or people in it. The play frame refers to the boundary or space - physical or emotional or imaginary - within which the play occurs. Annihilation is the end of play when the cycle finishes. Though the original author’s definitions were questioned, Else and Sturrock’s theory offers new perspectives for those professionals involved in working with children. This has implications for any childhood setting where the Play Cycle is used, including playgroups, nurseries, outdoor learning environments and out of school provision catering for primary-aged children. : www.journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/1476718X19885991