The 3 C's of PLAY™
By Yolonda Deon Tyler
At its core, PLAY is more than fun; it’s a growth model. It gives us a way to understand how humans learn, connect, and thrive across a lifetime.
The 3 C’s of Play™ Community, Creativity, and Cognitive Development serve as the framework inside the model, helping us see how growth actually happens through play.
Community
(Foundation)
A feeling of fellowship with others as a result of sharing common attitudes, interests, and goals.
Play begins with connection. Through shared experiences, we develop belonging, empathy, and trust.
-
Builds safe and supportive environments
-
Encourages collaboration and social bonds
-
Creates a sense of belonging that makes growth possible
Mindfulness + PLAY builds communities rooted in compassion and presence.
Creativity
(Process)
The use of the imagination or original ideas.
Creativity transforms curiosity into discovery. Play invites us to experiment, solve problems, and create new ways of seeing the world.
-
Unlocks new ideas and perspectives
-
Teaches emotional regulation and empathy
-
Fuels resilience through flexible thinking
-
Mindfulness + PLAY unlocks creativity, helping us imagine new possibilities for ourselves and the world around us.
Cognitive
Developent
(Transformation)
The process through which an individual acquires knowledge, comprehension, problem-solving skills, and the capacity for abstract thinking
The outcomes of play are lasting enhanced thinking skills, resilience, and the ability to adapt and grow.
-
Strengthens memory, focus, and problem-solving
-
Builds capacity for abstract thinking and decision-making
-
Supports lifelong learning and adaptability
Mindfulness + PLAY strengthens the mind, helping us grow with intention and awareness.
