One of my goals is to convince schools to allow free play at school every day after school, from the time when the school day ends to the time when parents' work day ends. That would solve the problem of providing ample play for kids and solve the parents' babysitting problem. We need to get parents to push hard for this in their school districts.
Thanks, Lizzie. I understand the challenge. But we have alrady been successful in teaching Play Club monitors (usually teachers) to take a truly hands-off approach. My instruction to them is to act like lifeguards on an ocean beach, not to tell the kids how to play, solve minor quarrels, or get concerned about minor bumps or bruises.. Their job is to be there only for real emergencies. I have been delighted to find that the monitors actually follow this and learn how competent kids are at looking out for themselves and one another when trusted do do so. A few schools already have after-school Play Club that goes more than an hour, with no rules except you have to stay on campus and don't deliberately hurt anyone. The school principal has to be on board with this--that's the first step--and the monitors must be trained to NOT intervene in the kids' play.
As a teacher and parent of a young teen I love your reminder to keep making it easier for our kids to play... our society does make it hard! I know when I let my then 7 year old walk to school solo it was seen as a little risque because we live on a major highway with a lot of through-traffic. We'd watched one of the videos of a child in Japan I think going to school solo, navigating going from a bus to a train and walking and so he thought he could do it easy with just having to walk. I am an older parent so still remember the freedom of my childhood so maybe that made it seem less confronting. (Not saying I wasn't a little nervous... but he was fine). Thank you for sharing and encouraging.
I have a son who will be starting Kindergarten this September. I have greatly appreciated the perspective and research that you have provided, and it has truly made a difference in the activities that I have chosen, and more importantly have not chosen, for my son during these young years. Thank you!
Global School Play Day has occurred every first Wednesday in February since 2015 (for free) - over 2 million children in over 80 nations have participated. Schools can be catalysts in reaffirming the essential role of unstructured play in the intellectual, physical, and social/emotional development of all children. We also know that access to play is a major equity issue - not all communities have safe, accessible places for children to play together. Schools can be that place. Parents and educators alike can advocate to principals, superintendents and district trustees to bring this movement to their campuses. www.globalschoolplayday.com
Eric, thank you for mentioning this. Ideally, Global School Play Day should be a catalyst for bringing more play every day into the school environment. It gives teachers and administrators an opportunity to witness the educational wonders of play.
Thank you, Peter! As you know, your work on the decline of play was the spark in 2014 that got us thinking about how to actualize play in schools. We’ve seen so many places incorporate multiple Play Days throughout the school year - so much so that they forget to sign up on our spreadsheet! We’re working hard to spotlight Rochester, NY - this past February, the City, school district, and Healthi Kids nonprofit organized a citywide “Global School Day of Play” - the first such collaboration we’ve seen, including a Mayor’s Proclamation. We see GSPD being a “positive provocation” to help schools and communities create the time and space for kids to play and explore freely. Cheers!
That's why it's so great when schools offer a Let Grow Play Club: It's a time and place for kids to gather to play in a mixed age group, screen free, doing whatever they like -- talking, playing soccer, hula hooping -- with an adult there only as a "lifeguard." Here's Let Grow's free implementation guide for schools: https://letgrow.org/program/play-club/
In Australia there is the opportunity to organise a play street through Play Australia. I've been facilitating one since the start of the year, and even though its a small group of kids, it's much better than going to the park alone. I'm hoping it grows and leads to more spontaneous opportunities for play in the years to come
I met one of the leaders of Play Australia, and this was the first I had heard of a play street. It's nice to hear that it's worked for you. I live in a cul de sac, so I was thinking of starting one myself.
Definitely look into it! My local council supplied play equipment and templates for invites. We meet at the park instead of on the street though, seeing as we live just a few houses down from a decent sized neighbourhood park council suggested we meet there instead
I love all of your articles, but this one is particular was so helpful to me. As someone who wants to promote free play for my daughter, it's hard to do so when I live in a community, both my city and my neighborhood, where wandering kids are just not present. I do many of these things, but the school Play Club is making my mind spin! I am involved with my library, so I'm hoping to start one there as well.
Thank you, Peter, for literally changing my life with your work and with the way you engage with the public. I hope someday I can do something for you. If you ever need a cellist... 💕
I'm a ski instructor and work mostly with kids. I find these ideas very helpful for balancing supervision and free play. I have also found that kids want to have fun while they learn. Sometimes I revert back to being an 8 year old. It's as much fun for me as it is for the kids.
Thank you for another wonderful article! I have fond memories of all the adult-free adventures I went on as a kid—a lucky anomaly for someone raised in the US in the 2000s. The research you've done and the organisations/successful models you've shared give me hope that I will be able to provide some semblance of that freedom to my kids if/when I become a parent. I'm sure I'll be referring back to articles like these when that time comes :)
One thing I would add that I am doing- former public school teacher here, a bit terrified to send my 5 year old to kindergarten next month, but feeling better about it as he will be partially-enrolled in the district.
We are in Illinois so I’m not sure how it differs by state, but parents in the US should know they don’t have to enroll in public schools full-time. We are “homeschooling” (IL requires this on paper) for reading and writing so he will go to school at 10:30am while the other students start at 8am. I realize this is not all families have this luxury, and I’m thinking through building a model that would make it a more accessible option, but thought it was worth mentioning as most people I speak with are unaware it’s even a possibility.
My personal conflict regarding full un-enrollment from the school system is how the local community public school acts as a hub in our neighborhood. I do have a desire for my children to experience the joyful and community-building aspects of the local school and how it could impact his friendships. It is probably my own projection since I am still friends with people I met in first grade.
Ultimately, I am situating myself to one day have to fully remove them from the school system, and I still worry I’m doing harm by sending them at all. My son and I have spoken at length about it, he likes the plan and helped me design it, and knows that if any point he doesn’t enjoy school we will never, ever force him to go.
I’m hopeful with these contingencies in place I can neutralize some of the harm of our current system, and yet, I know the harms are there by sheer design of the schools. Some days I feel so helpless- but then again, I did grow up in the 90s 🤪
Thank you again, for all of your wisdom and willingness to diverge from the status quo.
Thank you for these interesting thoughts, Megan. My view is this. As long as you listen to your son--which you are clearly doing--and a long as he is happy with the plan and has some say in how it unfolds, you can't go far wrong.
I wonder if the option for part-time schooling is available in other states. Maybe other readers have some insight on this. This option could be great for some families.
I loved the piece by the teacher regarding the effects of free play on bullying. It's all actually SUCH a simple solution!
One of my very favourite quotations comes from Zoltán Kodály (the founder of the approach to music education which is my specialism) - it's referring to music, but actually is relevant to much more:
'Many people...obstinately keep hammering on the locked gates and pass right by the open doors that are accessible to everybody.'
Yes, indeed, they were great ethnomusicologists - much as Cecil Sharp and Ralph Vaughan Williams were around the same time in the UK :). Certainly Kodály's pedagogy was incredibly systematic and structured - one of the things I love most about it!
I struggle as a mum of a child with additional needs (autism, behavioural challenges), to the point we stopped bothering socialising. Was just too stressful. Feels like a catch 22, you want your child with additional needs to get those social play experiences, yet facilitating them comes with so much stress. I feel happy that at least on his lunch break at school he gets that free play experience with other kids. During school holidays it’s lacking for us. I live in a small row of cottages with no other children. We visit parks and he interacts with others/experiences free play there.
I agree with what you say in one of the comments about school holding after school time that offers free play rather than it all being about ‘clubs’ and ‘homework’ as it currently is.
Peter - Have you evaluated the research behind Spielzeugfreier Kindergarten? Basic idea (my paraphrase): Take away their toys and they learn to play more (with basic materials).
Curious what you think, as “take away their toys” wasn’t on your list!
Thanks for this! As the parent of a 2.5 year old I’ve had the same thought you started this article with - “sounds great but how do I do it?”
Luckily it has even been useful at his young age. A couple weeks ago we went to a party with other couples with kids around the same age and purposely stayed up on the deck while they ran around, jumping in the kiddie pool and climbing on the swing set - one kid hit another in the head with a sprinkler, we bit our tongues, let them work it out, and he still say the other is his favorite.
Thank you Peter for such concrete suggestions. I fully agree, childhood independence is lacking, and resulting in higher levels of anxiety that are not being replaced with feelings of accomplishment. However, as your reader Julie mentioned, it’s much more complicated for families with neurodivergent children (Up to 20% of the population.) Factors that can weigh in like increased emotional dysregulation, social anxiety, impulsivity, difficulty reading social cues, and perspective taking, can unfortunately lead to fight-flight-freeze responses often causing social rejection and isolation. This fear of behaviors 2e parents have actually experienced, causes even more concern about pushing one’s child toward more independence. With your permission, I’d love to be able to post your ideas on my Substack post, giving you credit of course, but adding addendums with specific tweaks for my neurodivergent clients. Your thoughts?
Every time I read a newsletter on this platform that promotes more open-ended play, I smile from ear to ear. Thank you so much for this list, Peter. I'm excited to read more about Let Grow Play Club!
One of my goals is to convince schools to allow free play at school every day after school, from the time when the school day ends to the time when parents' work day ends. That would solve the problem of providing ample play for kids and solve the parents' babysitting problem. We need to get parents to push hard for this in their school districts.
Thanks, Lizzie. I understand the challenge. But we have alrady been successful in teaching Play Club monitors (usually teachers) to take a truly hands-off approach. My instruction to them is to act like lifeguards on an ocean beach, not to tell the kids how to play, solve minor quarrels, or get concerned about minor bumps or bruises.. Their job is to be there only for real emergencies. I have been delighted to find that the monitors actually follow this and learn how competent kids are at looking out for themselves and one another when trusted do do so. A few schools already have after-school Play Club that goes more than an hour, with no rules except you have to stay on campus and don't deliberately hurt anyone. The school principal has to be on board with this--that's the first step--and the monitors must be trained to NOT intervene in the kids' play.
Such a simple thing that would be a game changer.
As a teacher and parent of a young teen I love your reminder to keep making it easier for our kids to play... our society does make it hard! I know when I let my then 7 year old walk to school solo it was seen as a little risque because we live on a major highway with a lot of through-traffic. We'd watched one of the videos of a child in Japan I think going to school solo, navigating going from a bus to a train and walking and so he thought he could do it easy with just having to walk. I am an older parent so still remember the freedom of my childhood so maybe that made it seem less confronting. (Not saying I wasn't a little nervous... but he was fine). Thank you for sharing and encouraging.
I have a son who will be starting Kindergarten this September. I have greatly appreciated the perspective and research that you have provided, and it has truly made a difference in the activities that I have chosen, and more importantly have not chosen, for my son during these young years. Thank you!
Global School Play Day has occurred every first Wednesday in February since 2015 (for free) - over 2 million children in over 80 nations have participated. Schools can be catalysts in reaffirming the essential role of unstructured play in the intellectual, physical, and social/emotional development of all children. We also know that access to play is a major equity issue - not all communities have safe, accessible places for children to play together. Schools can be that place. Parents and educators alike can advocate to principals, superintendents and district trustees to bring this movement to their campuses. www.globalschoolplayday.com
Eric, thank you for mentioning this. Ideally, Global School Play Day should be a catalyst for bringing more play every day into the school environment. It gives teachers and administrators an opportunity to witness the educational wonders of play.
Thank you, Peter! As you know, your work on the decline of play was the spark in 2014 that got us thinking about how to actualize play in schools. We’ve seen so many places incorporate multiple Play Days throughout the school year - so much so that they forget to sign up on our spreadsheet! We’re working hard to spotlight Rochester, NY - this past February, the City, school district, and Healthi Kids nonprofit organized a citywide “Global School Day of Play” - the first such collaboration we’ve seen, including a Mayor’s Proclamation. We see GSPD being a “positive provocation” to help schools and communities create the time and space for kids to play and explore freely. Cheers!
If anyone has experience starting “a sandlot” type program I would love to hear about it.
So would I!
That's why it's so great when schools offer a Let Grow Play Club: It's a time and place for kids to gather to play in a mixed age group, screen free, doing whatever they like -- talking, playing soccer, hula hooping -- with an adult there only as a "lifeguard." Here's Let Grow's free implementation guide for schools: https://letgrow.org/program/play-club/
In Australia there is the opportunity to organise a play street through Play Australia. I've been facilitating one since the start of the year, and even though its a small group of kids, it's much better than going to the park alone. I'm hoping it grows and leads to more spontaneous opportunities for play in the years to come
I met one of the leaders of Play Australia, and this was the first I had heard of a play street. It's nice to hear that it's worked for you. I live in a cul de sac, so I was thinking of starting one myself.
Definitely look into it! My local council supplied play equipment and templates for invites. We meet at the park instead of on the street though, seeing as we live just a few houses down from a decent sized neighbourhood park council suggested we meet there instead
I love all of your articles, but this one is particular was so helpful to me. As someone who wants to promote free play for my daughter, it's hard to do so when I live in a community, both my city and my neighborhood, where wandering kids are just not present. I do many of these things, but the school Play Club is making my mind spin! I am involved with my library, so I'm hoping to start one there as well.
Thank you, Peter, for literally changing my life with your work and with the way you engage with the public. I hope someday I can do something for you. If you ever need a cellist... 💕
I'm a ski instructor and work mostly with kids. I find these ideas very helpful for balancing supervision and free play. I have also found that kids want to have fun while they learn. Sometimes I revert back to being an 8 year old. It's as much fun for me as it is for the kids.
Thank you for another wonderful article! I have fond memories of all the adult-free adventures I went on as a kid—a lucky anomaly for someone raised in the US in the 2000s. The research you've done and the organisations/successful models you've shared give me hope that I will be able to provide some semblance of that freedom to my kids if/when I become a parent. I'm sure I'll be referring back to articles like these when that time comes :)
Such a helpful list, Peter. Thank you.
One thing I would add that I am doing- former public school teacher here, a bit terrified to send my 5 year old to kindergarten next month, but feeling better about it as he will be partially-enrolled in the district.
We are in Illinois so I’m not sure how it differs by state, but parents in the US should know they don’t have to enroll in public schools full-time. We are “homeschooling” (IL requires this on paper) for reading and writing so he will go to school at 10:30am while the other students start at 8am. I realize this is not all families have this luxury, and I’m thinking through building a model that would make it a more accessible option, but thought it was worth mentioning as most people I speak with are unaware it’s even a possibility.
My personal conflict regarding full un-enrollment from the school system is how the local community public school acts as a hub in our neighborhood. I do have a desire for my children to experience the joyful and community-building aspects of the local school and how it could impact his friendships. It is probably my own projection since I am still friends with people I met in first grade.
Ultimately, I am situating myself to one day have to fully remove them from the school system, and I still worry I’m doing harm by sending them at all. My son and I have spoken at length about it, he likes the plan and helped me design it, and knows that if any point he doesn’t enjoy school we will never, ever force him to go.
I’m hopeful with these contingencies in place I can neutralize some of the harm of our current system, and yet, I know the harms are there by sheer design of the schools. Some days I feel so helpless- but then again, I did grow up in the 90s 🤪
Thank you again, for all of your wisdom and willingness to diverge from the status quo.
Thank you for these interesting thoughts, Megan. My view is this. As long as you listen to your son--which you are clearly doing--and a long as he is happy with the plan and has some say in how it unfolds, you can't go far wrong.
Your support and encouragement means everything, thank you so much ❤️
I wonder if the option for part-time schooling is available in other states. Maybe other readers have some insight on this. This option could be great for some families.
Another wonderful and inspiring article.
I loved the piece by the teacher regarding the effects of free play on bullying. It's all actually SUCH a simple solution!
One of my very favourite quotations comes from Zoltán Kodály (the founder of the approach to music education which is my specialism) - it's referring to music, but actually is relevant to much more:
'Many people...obstinately keep hammering on the locked gates and pass right by the open doors that are accessible to everybody.'
Love the Kodaly reference.
He and Bela Bartok practically invented systematic ethnomusicology too!
Yes, indeed, they were great ethnomusicologists - much as Cecil Sharp and Ralph Vaughan Williams were around the same time in the UK :). Certainly Kodály's pedagogy was incredibly systematic and structured - one of the things I love most about it!
I struggle as a mum of a child with additional needs (autism, behavioural challenges), to the point we stopped bothering socialising. Was just too stressful. Feels like a catch 22, you want your child with additional needs to get those social play experiences, yet facilitating them comes with so much stress. I feel happy that at least on his lunch break at school he gets that free play experience with other kids. During school holidays it’s lacking for us. I live in a small row of cottages with no other children. We visit parks and he interacts with others/experiences free play there.
I agree with what you say in one of the comments about school holding after school time that offers free play rather than it all being about ‘clubs’ and ‘homework’ as it currently is.
Peter - Have you evaluated the research behind Spielzeugfreier Kindergarten? Basic idea (my paraphrase): Take away their toys and they learn to play more (with basic materials).
Curious what you think, as “take away their toys” wasn’t on your list!
https://www.facebook.com/reel/504420245380687
Thanks for this! As the parent of a 2.5 year old I’ve had the same thought you started this article with - “sounds great but how do I do it?”
Luckily it has even been useful at his young age. A couple weeks ago we went to a party with other couples with kids around the same age and purposely stayed up on the deck while they ran around, jumping in the kiddie pool and climbing on the swing set - one kid hit another in the head with a sprinkler, we bit our tongues, let them work it out, and he still say the other is his favorite.
Thank you Peter for such concrete suggestions. I fully agree, childhood independence is lacking, and resulting in higher levels of anxiety that are not being replaced with feelings of accomplishment. However, as your reader Julie mentioned, it’s much more complicated for families with neurodivergent children (Up to 20% of the population.) Factors that can weigh in like increased emotional dysregulation, social anxiety, impulsivity, difficulty reading social cues, and perspective taking, can unfortunately lead to fight-flight-freeze responses often causing social rejection and isolation. This fear of behaviors 2e parents have actually experienced, causes even more concern about pushing one’s child toward more independence. With your permission, I’d love to be able to post your ideas on my Substack post, giving you credit of course, but adding addendums with specific tweaks for my neurodivergent clients. Your thoughts?
Every time I read a newsletter on this platform that promotes more open-ended play, I smile from ear to ear. Thank you so much for this list, Peter. I'm excited to read more about Let Grow Play Club!