About Why Play?
We are a small editorial team committed to showing why play matters for focus, wellbeing, learning and community.
Our mission and values
Everything we publish is guided by a simple belief: play is not a distraction from serious work, but a foundation for it.
Evidence first
We look for research and practical experience before making claims, and we are open about what remains uncertain.
Inclusive by design
Our guidance works for children, adults, teams and families, and we avoid assuming that play looks the same for everyone.
Practical clarity
Each article ends with ideas that readers can try the same week, without special equipment or large budgets.
Worth reading
Where our story began
Why Play? started as a set of informal notes shared between colleagues who noticed that short, playful activities made difficult days easier. What began as a newsletter grew into a regular publication.
Over time we widened our scope to include education, workplace culture and family life, always keeping the focus on practical benefits that people can see for themselves.
Our journey so far
Key milestones in the development of the publication.
First informal notes
A handful of articles on play at work were shared within a small group of colleagues.
Public launch
The publication opened to readers and began covering education and family routines alongside workplace play.
Remote play guides
As teams moved online, we published guides for shared games that worked across video calls and distributed groups.
Life around the team
A look at the spaces and moments that shape our work.
Team overview
The people who research, write and test the ideas we publish.
Editor in chief
Oversees the editorial direction, commissions research-based features and reviews every published guide.
Research lead
Tracks academic and industry sources on play, checks claims and keeps our reading lists current.
Practice coordinator
Tests activities with real groups and turns their feedback into clear, step-by-step instructions.
The guides are short enough to use during a busy week, yet thoughtful enough to change how we run our team meetings.
Operations Manager, Regional Service Centre
Join the conversation
Share your own experience of play at work or at home and help us build a more useful picture of what works.
Contact us