One of my supervisors once said that my way of thinking is sometimes playful and unguarded, almost like a child discovering the world. But she emphasized that this was not a weakness—on the contrary, it is a strength. That playful attitude fosters curiosity, wonder, and the courage to push boundaries. It led me to a question: why do we lose that playfulness in our lives, and especially in education?

Learning is often positioned as an obligation, a trajectory that begins in school and continues later as “lifelong learning” or “lifelong development.” But what if we let go of that idea entirely? What if the essence of human life is not about learning or developing but about playing? Not absorbing knowledge or following a set path, but experimenting, discovering, and reinventing yourself? That is the essence of Life Long Play—or, in Dutch: Leven Lang Spelen.

What is Life Long Play?

Life Long Play is fundamentally different from Lifelong Learning or Development.

• Lifelong Learning implies that something is always missing, that you need to fill in gaps or improve yourself.
• Lifelong Development emphasizes a targeted process with specific goals and endpoints.
• Life Long Play, on the other hand, is free, open, and unconstrained. It’s not about what you must achieve but about what you get to discover.

Playing is not focused on end goals but on the process itself. It is creative, exploratory, experimental, and always in motion. It makes room for mistakes, surprises, and unexpected turns. And in that freedom lies the magic of personal growth.

Why Play is the Answer

Play is the most natural way humans learn. Look at children: without rules or structures, they explore the world, develop skills, and build relationships. Why would we ever stop that? The current system confines learning to a framework of tests, grades, and diplomas, often at the expense of creativity and discovery.

Life Long Play reintroduces that playful, exploratory element—not just for children, but for everyone. It’s not about what you know but what you experience and create. Play isn’t limited to a phase or an institution; it’s a mindset you can carry throughout your life.

Play as the Foundation of Life

Life Long Play is more than an educational idea; it’s a way of life. It invites us to refocus on what truly matters: not earning diplomas, not meeting standards, but following our curiosity and embracing our unique paths.

It’s a radical idea that deviates from traditional systems—and that is exactly what’s needed. The world is changing, and it’s time for our approach to learning and growth to evolve too. Not through more systems, but through fewer boundaries. Not through more rules, but through more freedom.

What do you think: are we ready to embrace a world where play takes center stage?

Maarten Meijer — working from an Evolutionary Perspective.
A conceptual thinker who helps make sense of what is already unfolding, working at the intersection of systems, education, and technology.
I explore and articulate possible directions without fixing outcomes too early.
I shape space for reflection, orientation, and choice — so what wants to remain can develop further.

In daily life, I work as Program Manager EdTech Ecosystem at NOLAI (the National Education Lab for AI).