Some of the best learning moments start with something simple: an invitation to play.
Nickelodeon Our World: The Play Lab invites youth to become "Funologists," exploring what makes play meaningful while creating games of their own. Through creativity, collaboration, and experimentation, young people discover that some of the most powerful ideas begin with a simple question: What makes something fun?
Play is a powerful pathway to learning, leadership, connection, and innovation. Together, Mizzen Education and Nickelodeon are helping educators create joyful experiences that empower young people to imagine, build, and explore what makes our world more fun.
Why Play Matters
Play isn't just fun - it's foundational! Research continues to show that playful learning supports meaningful outcomes in leadership, communication, wellbeing, creativity, and youth agency. It helps young people build the skills they need not only to succeed, but to thrive.
1. Play Strengthens Communication
We learn to communicate by doing things together.
Through play, young people share ideas, negotiate rules, express perspectives, and listen to one another in meaningful ways. According to research from the LEGO Foundation, play-based learning can significantly strengthen communication skills because it creates authentic opportunities for collaboration and problem-solving.
2. Connection Comes Before Content
Trust, belonging, and psychological safety are prerequisites for meaningful learning.
Too often, we skip icebreakers, energizers, and playful moments because we're eager to get to the "real" activity. But play is the real activity.
Play creates shared experiences, lowers barriers, and helps young people build relationships with one another. Research from the American Psychological Association suggests that play increases social bonding, empathy, and perspective-taking.
Before young people are willing to take risks, share openly, or engage deeply, they need opportunities to feel connected. Connection comes before content.
3. Play Unlocks Creativity and Resilience
Play gives young people permission to experiment, to fail, to laugh, and to try again.
Research from the University of Michigan suggests that playful experiences help cultivate a growth mindset—the belief that abilities can develop through effort and learning.
As youth design games, invent solutions, and iterate on ideas, they're practicing creativity, resilience, and innovation all at once.
What Is The Play Lab?
Nickelodeon Our World: The Play Lab is a 12-part learning experience that transforms young people into “Funologists,” creative thinkers, designers, engineers, and problem-solvers who investigate one essential question: What makes something truly fun?
Throughout the experience, young people:
The Play Lab blends creativity, STEM learning, collaboration, youth voice, and joyful experimentation into one unforgettable journey.
How Educators Can Bring The Play Lab to Life
The beauty of The Play Lab is its flexibility. Whether you're leading an after-school club, a summer program, or a family engagement event, there are countless ways to make it your own.
🌞 Summer Camp Innovation Week: Dedicate a week to “Junior Funologist Training.” Each day, campers can take on a different role—Funologist, Materials Engineer, Structural Engineer, or Environmental Engineer—as they design and test original games. By the end of the week, campers showcase their game creations in a Worldwide Day of Play celebration.
🏡 Family Night Game Design Challenge: Host a Family Game Lab, where youth and their families test classic games, use the Game Criteria Checklist to evaluate them, and then work together to create a brand-new game. Families can prototype their ideas using everyday materials and share their designs in a friendly competition.
🎭 Afterschool Game-Maker Club: Launch a weekly club where youth explore what makes games fun. They’ll complete Play Preference Trackers to reflect on the games they love, then use The Play Lab framework to create, test, and refine their own games. Their final projects could be presented at a school-wide Game Expo!
🏫 Community Play Day: Partner with local organizations to bring play to public spaces! Youth can design large-scale versions of their favorite games, such as a life-sized Color Conquest strategy game or an outdoor Lucky Draw tournament. This is a great way to promote community engagement and teamwork.
💡 STEM + SEL Integration: Use The Play Lab to connect STEM and social-emotional learning. Youth will apply math and science as they refine their game mechanics and develop problem-solving skills while collaborating as a team. They’ll also explore inclusivity by designing games that are accessible to all players.
Start exploring The Play Lab today!
Designing Experiences That Young People Remember
For educators, The Play Lab offers a chance to bring more joy, creativity, and youth leadership into everyday programming. It invites young people to contribute their ideas, test their thinking, and learn alongside one another.
The process matters as much as the final product. Through play, young people practice collaboration, problem-solving, communication, and resilience—all while doing something that feels meaningful and fun. That's the real power of play.
Ready to become a Funologist? Explore Nickelodeon Our World: The Play Lab and bring the power of play to your program.