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Play to learn, teach by play

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 June 2015

Elisabetta Palagi
Affiliation:
Natural History Museum, University of Pisa, 56011 Calci, Pisa, Italy. elisabetta.palagi@unipi.ithttp://unimap.unipi.it/cercapersone/cercapersone.php Unit of Cognitive Primatology & Primate Center, Institute of Cognitive Sciences and Technologies CNR, 00197 Rome, Italy.
Roscoe Stanyon
Affiliation:
Anthropology Laboratories, Department of Biology, University of Florence, 50122 Florence, Italy. roscoe.stanyon@unifi.ithttp://www.bio.unifi.it
Elisa Demuru
Affiliation:
Natural History Museum, University of Pisa, 56011 Calci, Pisa, Italy. elisabetta.palagi@unipi.ithttp://unimap.unipi.it/cercapersone/cercapersone.php Department of Bioscience, University of Parma, 43124 Parma, Italy. elidemu@yahoo.ithttp://www.bioscienze.unipr.it/it

Abstract

The synthesis provided by Kline in the target article is noteworthy, but ignores the inseparable role of play in the evolution of learning and teaching in both humans and other animals. Play is distinguished and advantaged by its positive feedback reinforcement through pleasure. Play, especially between adults and infants, is probably the platform from which human learning and teaching evolved.

Type
Open Peer Commentary
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2015 

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