The evolution of play to playfulness over time establishes developmental foundations that are of central importance throughout life. Freud believed that play is at its richest and most adaptive during the oedipal phase; others have taken issue with Freud's view that play has its place mainly in childhood and is given up in adulthood. This paper emphasizes the central importance of playfulness throughout life. In formulating the boundaries of play, it utilizes the observations and comments of experts in the field.