Annihilation in a play context is the final stage in the Play Cycle, as defined by Gordon Sturrock (1948-2019) and Perry Else (1959-2014). It marks 'the end of playing', or the end of a particular Play Cycle.
When observing a playspace, it is sometimes possible to spot when an Annihilation occurs. The children involved in a given Play Frame might be seen to abruptly leave the physical location where the playing was taking place; and if multiple children have been involved they may separate, moving away from each other in search of the next thing to play.
This should not be mistaken as a 'bad thing', though - it is an indication that all the possibilities that existed within a particular Play Frame have been exhausted; or that the playing child or children have had their immediate play needs satisfied.
When it is a deliberate act by the children involved it is therefore a natural, and in fact necessary, part of playing that has to occur before there is (often) a pause and the next Play Cycle begins. As Perry Else says in his 2009 book, 'The Value of Play',
“This ‘annihilation’ is often seen not just in the sand tray but also in the bigger play space of the beach where twice a day, the tide comes in to wipe clean the playing field. Children are aware of this and will often build castles and small towns close to the water’s edge, taking pleasure from the gradual destruction of their creations.” (p.15)
However, there are times when an Adulteration can bring a Play Cycle to an end against the wishes of the children playing. This Premature Annihilation might have come about by an adult wishing to move the children on to something else (such as an administrative element like a meal time or transition to another activity), or an adult may have attempted to add an element to the Play Frame that the children reject.
In this latter example, children may simply 'lose the thread' of where they are up to in their playing and as a result, the Play Frame collapses and Annihilation occurs. This is sometimes evident as it can result in frustration and even anger.
See also Play Cycle, Adulteration, and Recurring Play Frame (to come).
