The Science of PLAE

At PLAE, we don’t just believe in play — we back it with science.

Play is more than fun. It’s how the brain grows, how emotions heal, how communities bond, and how species evolve. From neuroscience to evolutionary biology, the research is clear: play is essential to development and wellbeing.

We’ve compiled a series of academic-style papers that bring the evidence to life, showing how PLAE’s philosophy is grounded in rigorous research — and why every toy, workshop, and moment of absurdity matters.