How audiences play: an overview of typical play activities in museums

This article presents an overview of typical play activities in museums as described in studies on museum play. The studies were encountered through a scoping review methodology, and descriptions of play activities in these studies were analyzed through qualitative and quantitative techniques. Based upon the analysis, four types of museum play activities are presented, namely Puzzles and Games, Pretend and Role Play, Creative and Constructive Play, and Physical and Sensory Play. Furthermore, two spectra on play structure, Social Play and Guided Play, are presented as additional perspectives on the museum play activities. The article aims to enhance our understanding of the conceptualization, development, and evaluation of play in a museum context. Additionally, it seeks to inspire researchers and practitioners to engage in more studies and evaluations concerning audience play in museums.