Play-based learning isn’t just fun—it’s a powerhouse for preschool development. With thoughtful weekly planning, teachers can weave in activities that nurture social, emotional, cognitive, and ...

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 ...

THURSTON COUNTY, Wash. — The Tumwater School District has implemented mandatory play-based learning across all kindergarten classrooms, requiring one hour of daily free play while maintaining ...

Teaching younger children through 'guided' play supports key aspects of their learning and development at least as well - and sometimes better - than the traditional direct instruction they usually ...

April 30, 2026 - Students at college campuses across California recover hundreds of pounds of unserved food from dining halls to serve to their hungry classmates. When Krystyna Kalishevskyi emigrated ...

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 ...

Across the U.S., educators and advocates are spotlighting play-based learning as a key driver of social and academic readiness, even as national reports reveal gaps in preschool quality and access.

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 ...