Caroline Mazaro
Proprioceptive Play: Exploring the Intersection of Creativity and Functionality
In his book Homo Ludens, the renowned Dutch historian Johan Huizinga delves into the role of play in shaping culture and human civilization. Inspired by his words, my research led me to reflect on my own childhood experiences, where an absence of playfulness reflected my later fascination with the transformative potential of children's toys as developmental tools.
Proprioceptive play, as I've come to understand it, represents play at work—an immersive exploration that harnesses children's toys as dynamic instruments for collaborative design. In this sense, unconventional objects become catalysts for exploring abstract spatial concepts, inspiring ideas that transcend conventional boundaries. As a crucial part of my final research, I created a mobile space for a collaborative workshop developed to provide participants with a safe space to explore their creativity using childhood memories and toys.
This research has helped deepen my appreciation for design strategies that prioritize collaboration, social consciousness, and human connection. I've uncovered the power of unconventional materials in generating innovative concepts. Embracing play as context, I've gleaned insights into the value of infusing real-world activities with the engaging dynamics inherent in games.
At its core, play emerges as a transcendent force—an imaginative conduit that channels the unspoken essence of existence. It reminds us of our profound entanglement with the mysteries of life.
The New School Game
When we imagine what our schools will be like in the future, many images come to mind, and most of us can gather some references from the schools we have been to. We can look into the past and see what remarkable pedagogues and their human-centred educational systems can offer. From there, we can begin to envision a new way of seeing the process of gaining new knowledge.
The Eight Developmental Areas come from my research on the mechanics of play, which envisioned the integration of Montessori, Waldorf, and Froebel educational systems in a play space designed for learning through play. But could these Eight Developmental Areas also form a new educational system based on love, interconnectedness, and play? Maybe. How would The New School look? Let's play and create it together!
When we approach design with a spirit of playfulness and games, we unlock new dimensions of our creative thinking. In these moments, when we feel a sense of agency and belonging, the world transforms into a more hopeful place. The New School Game is not just a toolkit for play and creation but a catalyst for reimagining the spaces where we truly want to learn and grow.
Deze pagina is voor het laatst gewijzigd op 7 mei 2024
Sta jij op deze pagina? En heb je een opmerking? Mail naar de redactie.