1) Play is an active process without a product
2) Play is intrinsically motivated
3) Play exerts no pressure to conform to rules, goals, tasks or to take definite directions.
4) It is about possible, alternate worlds which involve the concepts ‘supporting’ and ‘as if’ and which lift the player to the highest levels of functioning. This involves being imaginative, creative, original and innovative.
5) Play is about participants wallowing in ideas, feelings and relationships, and becoming aware of what we know (metacognition).
6) It actively uses first hand experiences.
7) It is sustained, and when in full flow, helps us to function in advance of what we can actually do in our real lives.
8) In play we use technical prowess mastery and competence that we have previously developed. We are in control.
9) Children or adults can initiate play but each must be sensitive to each others personal agenda.
10) Play can be solitary.
11) It can be with others each of who is sensitive to fellow players.
12) Play integrates everything we learn, know, feel, relate to and understand