Series: Hear from the Experts
Playtime Isn’t Over: The Importance of Play in Early Grades
Brains At Play
nprEd
"Play is how we social animals learn the rules of being social. Sort of counterintuitive when you think about it: Play is how you learn rules... It's a very valuable thing for childhood development. And we as a culture have to learn to use it properly and have to make sure our kids get plenty of it."
Go to linkThe importance of play for young learners is often downplayed. However, research shows that it may be an integral part of a child’s development. This short NPR piece suggests that providing children with ample playtime allows them to develop important social and behavioral skills. An entertaining animation accompanies the article, explaining the research being done that supports this notion. Collaborative research is working to tie together the use of play and impactful math teaching.