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 ...

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 ...

Play-based learning isn’t just fun — it’s a powerful way to build early literacy skills. From storytelling to letter games, playful experiences help children connect language with meaning while ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

The transition from preschool to school is a big deal for many children and parents. Over the next few weeks, many preschoolers will take part in a transition program, designed by their teachers, to ...