ABSTRACT

This chapter provides a theoretical introduction to the field of play in adulthood, which will underpin all of the later chapters in this book. We will consider why adult play is different from play in childhood, and why this distinction is important when designing engaging and inclusive playful events, activities and experiences. We will explore the different types of play that adults engage in, and the different motivations that different people have for doing so. Finally, and critically, we will problematise play as pedagogy and consider ways of making playful approaches more accessible to a wider range of adults in a broader variety of contexts.