Play is often viewed as the natural language of childhood. But beyond simply being fun, play is a vital component of early learning. Play-based learning is an educational approach that leverages play ...

The 3- and 4-year-old students in Phil Wrigley’s nursery classroom at the British International School of Chicago, South Loop were on the hunt to find items starting with the S sound that were ...

Connecticut teachers want you to know that “play-based learning” is not an oxymoron. For years child development and education experts have praised the benefits of play-based learning — a pedagogy ...

A third grade student sets the last domino down in a row along the edge of a table while playing in Crystal O’Brien’s classroom at Shidler Elementary School in Oklahoma City. Credit: Ariel ...

As a play researcher, I applaud the state legislature for mandating play-based learning in preschool, kindergarten, and elementary school classrooms. Play has a powerful effect on development and ...

Parents visiting their children’s kindergarten class for the first time may think they’ve arrived at the wrong room, especially if they expect it to resemble the kindergarten they attended as ...

EdSource · The John Fensterwald forecast: What’s coming for California schools in 2026 The John Fensterwald forecast: What’s coming for California schools in 2026 January 8, 2026 - It's time for John ...

Colorful trees come to life as a group of kindergartners glue bits of tissue and construction paper onto a drawing of a trunk. They’re engaged in play — but, in this Northwestern University Center for ...

One of my earliest posts here concerned the definition of play, which I developed further in an article on “Definitions of Play” for Scholarpedia (Gray, 2013) and in my book Free to Learn. I first ...

In May of this year (2024), a colleague and I traveled with a group of 15 American college students to Tokyo, Japan. The trip was part of an honors course on play across cultures. Before leaving, the ...

State Rep. Liz Linehan gives a speech in support of ConnecticutÕs SB2: An Act Concerning The Mental, Physical and Emotional Wellness of Children on Monday, June 5. Credit: Yehyun Kim / CT Mirror ...