Exploration of play and sandbox environments for adult learning.
Practically BetaHave you ever watched the wonder of children as they play and explore the world around them? Many parents can attest to spending hundreds of dollars on toys, only to watch their child pick up the box that Dad’s socks were delivered in and create an entire world of magic and imagination. This isn’t a bug; it’s a feature of child development, and it lays the foundation for healthy adulthood. Play isn’t just something fun to do. It’s how children build the social and cognitive skills that shape collaboration, problem-solving, and creativity (Yogman et al., The Power of Play, Pediatrics, 2018).
Power of Play
Okay, we’re all adults here, right? So why does this matter? We know play is great for children—but what does it have to do with adults who are caring for themselves, supporting family members, working full-time, and trying to start a sourdough starter? Turns out, adults benefit from play too.
Malcolm Knowles’ Andragogy Theory of Adult Learning reminds us that adults prefer to learn things with immediate, real-world application. We want to know that what we’re learning will solve a real problem. But that creates tension. Society expects kids to break things, test boundaries, and learn through trial and error. We even encourage it.
But what about us? Can you experiment in your company’s database to see if that cool new feature the IT department mentioned might make your job easier? What if clicking the wrong button wipes out the entire database? Or overwrites data that can’t be retrieved?
What about a new feature designed to help customers in a call center? If you land on the wrong screen, you might lose access to their information entirely. Devastating. The kind of thing that keeps professionals up at night.
But what if…
Power of the Sandbox
What if you could test, play, push boundaries, and break things—in a safe environment? If you’ve ever been part of a system modernization effort, you’ve probably heard of a sandbox. It’s a controlled, isolated space where users can experiment without affecting the production environment. In other words, they can’t damage anything or get reprimanded for trying something new.
Remember that database with the cool feature I mentioned earlier? What if you knew that anything you did inside it was contained in a sandbox—completely separate from live company data? What if you could test that new call center feature without risking service metrics or customer information?
Breathing a little easier? Me too. Your shoulders aren’t slumping, your curiosity is awake, and your confidence just got a boost.
That, my friends, is the power of a sandbox.
Building Your Own
Some organizations naturally build sandbox experiences for employees to test new tools and software. It’s a strong way to build knowledge and confidence during implementation. And guess what’s the biggest tool many companies are rolling out right now? Artificial Intelligence (AI). Whether it’s a large language model like Gemini or Copilot, or AI embedded in systems like Workday, it’s being deployed rapidly across industries—and impacting roles with very little training.
But here’s the thing: you don’t have to be a passive passenger on the bus. The sandbox isn’t some mysterious thing only IT can do. It’s something each of us can create for ourselves.
That sounds great, but how? Let’s explore some practical ways organizational leaders and individuals can activate the power of play—through curiosity, experimentation, and the sandbox.
Whether you're an executive, in learning and development, an employee, or simply someone feeling overwhelmed by the pace of technological change—remember, play still matters. Even for adults, it holds power. But our play often comes with greater risks. Creating sandbox environments and embracing curiosity and failure can help us fall forward. It isn’t about scaling the mountain; it’s about deciding how far you want to hike and what you need to get there.
Turns out, the box your socks came in still holds magic—you just needed permission to play again. What can you do today to create your own sandbox?
Practically Beta, by Karida.
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