I have been doing a bit of research into the theory's underpinning LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY®, and have come across a book first published in 1944 by Johan Huizinga called Homo Ludens, Man the Player. You can read it yourself on the PDF link from Yale University below, but just these two excerpts from the first chapter highlight the ancient and serious importance of play.
CHAPTER 1: NATURE AND SIGNIFICANCE OF PLAY AS A CULTURAL PHENOMENON
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