As a species, we’ve evolved with playfulness as a key trait.

Have you ever observed a newborn baby, working hard to roll for the first time?

Have you ever noticed a toddler at the bottom of a set of steps, working with their entire little body to get themselves up and down again?

Have you ever pursued something for yourself - a hobby, a sport, an art of some kind - and found yourself losing track of time, trying again and again until it feels you’ve completed it successfully?

These are all observable natural impulses and evidence of our intrinsic motivation as humans to grow and develop through play.

For children to grow into happy and healthy adults, they need time and space to build, create, destroy, and explore, both in their home environment and outdoors. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, play is crucial for healthy development, protecting against toxic stress, and creating meaningful relationships.

We are all aware of concerns about screen time, sedentary time, time alone.

“Dozens of studies have now found that spending time outdoors, especially in free play, benefits children's physical health, social skills, and even their concentration and school readiness.” (Unicef)

The best tool we have to combat the negative effects of isolation is also the most simple: providing and protecting space for children to have true freedom to play, that is, activity that is personally directed, freely chosen, and intrinsically motivated.

This definition comes from the Playwork Principles (Cardiff, 2005), which guide our work here at Three Seas. We create environments that allow children to build, create, destroy, and explore, developing creativity, confidence, and community in the process.