The Importance of Play
Many of us may fondly recall the joys of running out of the house, with a parent yelling, “Make sure you’re home when the street lights come on!” Days were spent with friends, with not an adult in sight, playing, creating, and exploring together.
Both Jonathan Haidt, In his book The Anxious Generation (2024), and Boston College professor, Peter Gray, in his TEDx talk The Decline of Play (2023), highlight the decline of this play-based childhood over the past forty years. Their research underscores the strong connection between the decline of childhood free play and the rise in youth mental health issues. While not the sole cause, reduced play is a critical factor in this crisis. They explain that play is a fundamental mechanism for developing physical, emotional, and social skills.
Unstructured and even risky play helps children build motor skills, emotional regulation, and social competence—key components of well-being. Several societal shifts have contributed to the decline of free play, including parental fears about unsupervised play, the rise of structured, adult-led activities, and an increased focus on academics.
Unstructured and even risky play helps children build motor skills, emotional regulation, and social competence—key components of well-being. Several societal shifts have contributed to the decline of free play, including parental fears about unsupervised play, the rise of structured, adult-led activities, and an increased focus on academics.
As educators, we see the effects of this shift: rising anxiety and depression rates and declines in perseverance, creativity, collaboration, and conflict-resolution skills. While it’s easy to attribute these struggles to changes in home life, educators are uniquely positioned to advocate for and create environments that encourage students to play, explore, and grow.
Haidt and Gray offer two key strategies for schools to address mental health concerns and promote well-being. First, implement phone-free policies and foster opportunities for free play. We have already reduced cell phone use to improve student focus and well-being. To build on this progress, we must also prioritize creating more spaces and opportunities for play. Rethinking recess procedures and play environments is a good place to start. Adding or improving play structures, expanding play spaces, extending recess, and reducing adult intervention can give students the freedom to engage in meaningful play. Partnering with families to shift community norms and emphasize the importance of unstructured time is equally vital. Additionally, re-evaluating homework policies and academic rigour to ensure they align with students’ developmental needs can further support their well-being.
This year, in Lower School Physical Education, we introduced a 20-minute open gym session during the 8-day cycle, allowing students to access equipment and coordinate activities with minimal adult direction. Observing students’ creativity, collaboration, and communication has been enlightening. They’ve devised unique games and exercised essential conflict-resolution skills. Inspired by Haidt’s discussion of “play clubs,” I wonder how we might expand such opportunities beyond the academic schedule.
Play is not just a pastime; it’s a cornerstone of healthy development. By fostering play, we empower students to build essential skills, resilience, and character. Play may be exactly what our students need to become the men of character they aspire to be.
References:
Haidt, J. (2024). The anxious generation: How the great rewiring of childhood is causing an epidemic of mental illness. Penguin Press.
Gray, P., Lancy, D. F., & Bjorklund, D. F. (2023, Septemeber). Decline in independent activity as a cause of decline in children's mental well-being: Summary of the evidence. Retrieved from https://www.petergray.org/_files/ugd/b4b4f9_f2cb98d004af4ebf9644c8daa30b040e.pdf
Gray, P. (2014, April 7). Risky play: Why children love it and need it. Psychology Today. Retrieved from https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/freedom-learn/201404/risky-play-why-children-love-it-and-need-it
