Locomotor Play is one of the sixteen ‘play types’ defined by British Playworker Bob Hughes in his 2002 Taxonomy of Play Types.
‘Movement’ is a key component of Locomotor Play, be it running, jumping, climbing or chasing for example. Yet Hughes takes this further by adding a requirement of the child having control over that movement. When the twin elements of movement and control are present, Hughes refers to this as ‘authentic locomotor play’.
This creates a distinction between, say, a child riding a skateboard under their own power and being on a skateboard while pushed along by someone else; and running freely across the playspace rather than taking part in a race or an obstacle course.
Again, if this combination of movement and control are present this Play Type overlaps with a number of others, particularily Deep Play, Mastery Play, and Rough & Tumble Play.
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See also Free Movement Play (not to be confused with Speed & Free Movement, or Forced Movement (to come).
See also Bob Hughes, The Play Types
