Reclaiming Play in Schools

Free and independent play—both in schools and in the home—is becoming a rarity in the lives of many children around the world. Even early years classrooms are increasingly faced with political and community pressure to focus more on teaching literacy and other academic skills to young children. At home, overuse of electronic devices means many children are not engaging in active play experiences and parents and community members may not fully facilitate such play. However, prevailing research points to the many benefits of play, showing a strong correlation between play and physical, cognitive, and social well-being. As the ancient philosopher Plato said, “Do not keep children to their studies by compulsion but by play.” In this article, the authors explore play research and suggest how educators and community members can advocate for play for all children.