--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It should be noted that children at play…" description: "\"It should be noted that children at play are not playing about; their games should be seen as their most serious-minded activity.\" — Michel de Montaigne" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f36/michel-de-montaigne-142_activity_it-should-be-noted-that-children-at-play_1187608.jpg" --- # It should be noted that children at play are not playing… ![“It should be noted that children at play are not playing about; their games should be seen as their most serious-minded activity.” quote by Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f36/michel-de-montaigne-142_activity_it-should-be-noted-that-children-at-play_1187608.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f36/michel-de-montaigne-142_activity_it-should-be-noted-that-children-at-play_1187608.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f36/michel-de-montaigne-142_activity_it-should-be-noted-that-children-at-play_1187608.jpg) > “It should be noted that children at play are not playing about; their games should be seen as their most serious-minded activity.” [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Children’s play is serious practice, reflecting deep learning and development. **In simple terms:** Play is serious learning for children. Key Takeaway Value children’s play as learning. Themes play learning development Mood thoughtful observational Type philosophical analytical When to use this quote - preschool - family activities - educational games Key Concepts education cognitive growth Questions to Reflect On - How does play contribute to problem‑solving? - What adult role supports constructive play? A Different Perspective Play can be unstructured and chaotic. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Activity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/activity/) [Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/child/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Children Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children-play/) [Games](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/games/) [Minded Activity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/minded-activity-3510320/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Play Playing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play-playing-1793992/) [Playing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/playing/) [Playing games](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/playing-games/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) ## Related quotes > [You might as well play at the show everyone else is playing at.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-mascis/you-might-as-well-play-at-the-show-everyone-else-is-playing-at/) [J Mascis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-mascis/) > [“Something as superfluous as "play" is also an essential feature of our consciousness. If you ask children why they like to play, they will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michio-kaku/something-as-superfluous-as-play-is-also-an-essential-feature-of-our/) [Michio Kaku](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michio-kaku/) > [Children's games are hardly games. Children are never more serious than when they play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/children-s-games-are-hardly-games-children-are-never-more-serious/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [Divorce is the price people play for playing with matches.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-esar/divorce-is-the-price-people-play-for-playing-with-matches/) [Evan Esar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-esar/) > [What matters isn't how well you play when you're playing well. What matters is how well you play when you're playing badly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martina-navratilova/what-matters-isn-t-how-well-you-play-when-you-re-playing-well-what-2/) [Martina Navratilova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martina-navratilova/) > [“You play, you win, you play, you lose. You play. It's the playing that's irresistible.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeanette-winterson/you-play-you-win-you-play-you-lose-you-play-it-s-the-playing-that-s-2/) [Jeanette Winterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeanette-winterson/) > [You can't be a band and not play, and playing is so invigorating. It breathes life into you. So does creating something out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-momsen/you-can-t-be-a-band-and-not-play-and-playing-is-so-invigorating-it/) [Taylor Momsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-momsen/) > [When I play, I'm playing for myself and I'm playing for my family too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-angelo-russell/when-i-play-i-m-playing-for-myself-and-i-m-playing-for-my-family-too/) [D'Angelo Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-angelo-russell/) > [I kind of got down on myself, and started putting all this pressure on myself to go out there and play well. And that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grayson-allen/i-kind-of-got-down-on-myself-and-started-putting-all-this-pressure-on/) [Grayson Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grayson-allen/) > [I can play a cat lady. I can't put my foot down and refuse to play anything but playing the perfect, well-adjusted woman, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-baker/i-can-play-a-cat-lady-i-can-t-put-my-foot-down-and-refuse-to-play/) [Sarah Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-baker/) > [You play, you win, you play, you lose. You play. It’s the playing that’s irresistible. Dicing from one year to the next with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeanette-winterson/you-play-you-win-you-play-you-lose-you-play-it-s-the-playing-that-s/) [Jeanette Winterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeanette-winterson/) > [For me, acting is play. It's just play and it's playing make believe really, really well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anson-mount/for-me-acting-is-play-it-s-just-play-and-it-s-playing-make-believe/) [Anson Mount](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anson-mount/) > [“..:Play life's greatest games and face it's greatest challenges. But play it by playing your own game. Your own unique style and way. Don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafael-garcia/play-life-s-greatest-games-and-face-it-s-greatest-challenges-but-play/) [Rafael Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafael-garcia/) > [For me, the best rock is not what you play - it's what you're not playing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lydon/for-me-the-best-rock-is-not-what-you-play-it-s-what-you-re-not-playing/) [John Lydon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lydon/) > [Mohanlal can play anything, and it's not 'playing' - it's becoming the character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/priyadarshan/mohanlal-can-play-anything-and-it-s-not-playing-it-s-becoming-the/) [Priyadarshan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/priyadarshan/) ## More by Michel de Montaigne > [No man is exempt from saying silly things; the mischief is to say them deliberately.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/no-man-is-exempt-from-saying-silly-things-the-mischief-is-to-say-them/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [The laws keep up their credit, not by being just, but because they are laws; 'tis the mystic foundation of their authority; they have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/the-laws-keep-up-their-credit-not-by-being-just-but-because-they-are/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [Every one rushes elsewhere and into the future, because no one wants to face one's own inner self.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/every-one-rushes-elsewhere-and-into-the-future-because-no-one-wants/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [Beauty is the true prerogative of women, and so peculiarly their own, that our sex, though naturally requiring another sort of feature, is never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/beauty-is-the-true-prerogative-of-women-and-so-peculiarly-their-own/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [The height and value of true virtue consists in the facility, utility, and pleasure of its exercise; so far from difficulty, that boys, as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/the-height-and-value-of-true-virtue-consists-in-the-facility-utility/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [Fie on the eloquence that leaves us craving itself, not things!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/fie-on-the-eloquence-that-leaves-us-craving-itself-not-things/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [The plainest sign of wisdom is a continual cheerfulness: her state is like that of things in the regions above the moon, always clear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/the-plainest-sign-of-wisdom-is-a-continual-cheerfulness-her-state-is/) [Michel De Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [The corruption of the age is made up by the particular contribution of every individual man; some contribute treachery, others injustice, atheism, tyranny, avarice,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/the-corruption-of-the-age-is-made-up-by-the-particular-contribution/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [If people must be talking about me, I would have it to be truthfully and justly. I would willingly return from the next world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/if-people-must-be-talking-about-me-i-would-have-it-to-be-truthfully/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [Most pleasures embrace us but to strangle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/most-pleasures-embrace-us-but-to-strangle/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [In true friendship, in which I am expert, I give myself to my friend more than I draw him to me. I not only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/in-true-friendship-in-which-i-am-expert-i-give-myself-to-my-friend/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [There are as many and innumerable degrees of wit, as there are cubits between this and heaven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/there-are-as-many-and-innumerable-degrees-of-wit-as-there-are-cubits/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [A man has need of tough ears to hear himself fairly judged.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/a-man-has-need-of-tough-ears-to-hear-himself-fairly-judged/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [Lucius Arruntius killed himself, he said, to escape both the future and the past.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/lucius-arruntius-killed-himself-he-said-to-escape-both-the-future-and/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [I have a vocabulary all my own. 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If he attempts several, he will fail to achieve distinction in any.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/each-man-is-capable-of-doing-one-thing-well-if-he-attempts-several-he/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [And also I think the rise of other, you could say, destinations for international jihadis mean that Pakistan isn't necessarily the place where people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohsin-hamid/and-also-i-think-the-rise-of-other-you-could-say-destinations-for/) [Mohsin Hamid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohsin-hamid/) > [To evoke in oneself a feeling one has once experienced, and having evoked it in oneself, then by means of movements, lines, colors, sounds,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/to-evoke-in-oneself-a-feeling-one-has-once-experienced-and-having/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [Fighting's fun, man. It's a great activity, it's a great sport.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-mitrione/fighting-s-fun-man-it-s-a-great-activity-it-s-a-great-sport/) [Matt Mitrione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-mitrione/) > [There were books everywhere in my house. Books were very present. I just loved books. I never understood reading as anything but a pleasurable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-lucas/there-were-books-everywhere-in-my-house-books-were-very-present-i/) [Lisa Lucas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-lucas/) > [For war to man, like childbirth to women, is simplifying in its emotions and activities. All the real problems of life can be put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pearl-s-buck/for-war-to-man-like-childbirth-to-women-is-simplifying-in-its/) [Pearl S. 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