Isn't playing the most natural form of learning?

I have been wrestling with this thought for a while now. Gamification, game-based learning, and incorporating play into learning, are seen as new trends in learning and development.

But is it really new though? I think we only ever learn for two reasons:

1. To survive

2. To play

And playing in any form is just a rehearsal of survival skills.

Our brains reward us for playing because we are rehearsing the skills necessary for our survival.

Think about any sport or game and break it down into skills and you will know it's true. Football? Running, agility, teamwork. A kitten trying to sneak up on its sibling? It is rehearsing a hunt.

So, why am I talking about this?

I am talking about this because we need a shift in our thinking when it comes to learning, whether it's at school or the workplace.

We need to recognize that play is the most natural form of learning and stop treating gamification/game-based learning, etc. as novelty additions that merely make learning more fun/engaging.

We learn best through play. We are wired for it. Let's take play more seriously.