This is a series on play and being playful, considered cornerstones of creativity and idea generation.

In the first activity, "Play Stations," students are provided with the opportunity to play and reconnect with their own innate creativity.

In the second activity, "Wacky Inventions," students work in groups to use existing products and objects to come up with (and then act out) the wackiest inventions they can think of.

Why is play important? There is significant evidence that many ideas for new products and services were developed through playing around with ideas, materials and products. Play itself gives us a fresh perspective which is often critical in solving problems and being innovative.

Play also helps us better understand the world around us because we can explore things in a fun way - we can make and build, create new worlds and personas, play new games and break the rules without fear of consequences. Play helps entrepreneurs innovate because it's risk-free—there's no judgment or failure when you're playing.

Using play and being playful as a tool for developing creativity can improve one's ability to generate ideas and solve problems. Often, to be able to come up with lots of ideas people need to be given permission to play around and be free from judgment!

Attention, Funologists! Nickelodeon's Our World is calling on young innovators to join them in their Play Lab to help design thrilling new games for Worldwide Day of Play. This adventure starts with exploring a variety of games to uncover what makes them fun and exciting. Equipped with these insights, participants will then craft their own unique game from scratch, aiming to make it a success on the big day. This innovative learning journey creates experiences that improve youths' health, wellbeing, and agency. Join us to collaborate, innovate, and turn fun into reality!