ABSTRACT
In this chapter we return to the idea that playing should simply be fun for children, and in so doing, review some old definitions of play, and offer up new ones, as well as new ways of considering play to prevent its further constraint and control. We examine some current trends in research and some of the debates surrounding play, such as its measurement, its commodification, the tendency to compare contemporary play to an idealised play of the past, as well as the recent “globalisation” of some concepts and notions around children’s health, physical activity and “active play”. We highlight some current initiatives and thoughts for how we, as participants in our respective societies and communities, can strive towards the creation of environments in which children can play in ways that “simply make them happy”.
