Kinky Play

In the context of BDSM, the term "play" encompasses a wide range of "kinky" activities that involve mental or physical sexual interactions of varying intensities and levels of social acceptance.

The concept of "play" originated within the BDSM party and club communities to describe the activities that occur during a scene. Over time, the term has evolved to include the entire spectrum of BDSM experiences.

Play often begins with gentle introductory sessions, where partners explore each other's preferences, aversions, and boundaries. As the relationship progresses, play can intensify, pushing participants beyond their established limits. While the term most often refers to physical interactions like bondage and flogging, it can also include mental exchanges such as mind games and erotic hypnosis.

Light play, which includes activities like bondage or light spanking, is common when BDSM community members are getting acquainted or when vanilla couples are experimenting with BDSM. As the intensity increases, the interactions become known as heavy play, which encompasses activities like caning, erotic hypnosis, and suspension bondage, all of which carry some degree of social stigma. The most intense level of play is known as edge play, where participants accept a certain level of physical or psychological risk. Edge play may involve breath play, knife and gun play, or blood play. The boundaries between each type of play are not rigidly defined; what one person considers edge play may be viewed as heavy or even light play by a more adventurous BDSM practitioner.

Regardless of the type of play, it is crucial that participants adhere to established safety guidelines to ensure the well-being of all involved.

While many people engage in play exclusively in private settings, others enjoy participating in BDSM play parties. At these events, guests often wear colored wristbands to signify their intentions, such as playing with one or multiple partners or preferring to observe. BDSM dungeon monitors oversee play stations to ensure that safety rules are followed by all participants.