The Power of Play: Why It Belongs in Every School (for Kids and Adults)

 

When you hear the word play, your mind probably goes straight to kids running around a playground or building with blocks on the classroom floor. But here’s the thing: play isn’t just for children. It’s a powerful tool for learning, creativity, and connection—for students and adults alike.

 

In fact, a growing body of research is making it clear: if we want more engaged students, healthier school cultures, and energized staff, we need to take play seriously.

 

 

Play Is How Kids Learn Best

 

For years, early childhood educators have known what research now confirms: play isn’t fluff. It’s foundational.

 

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, play supports everything from executive function and language development to emotional regulation and social skills. In their words, it “is fundamentally important for learning 21st-century skills” like collaboration, problem-solving, and innovation. It even helps buffer the effects of stress (Yogman et al., 2018).

 

And it’s not just about toddlers. Research shows that “guided play”—where adults set the stage but students take the lead—has a powerful effect on academic learning too. A 2022 article from the National Association for the Education of Young Children explains how playful approaches can lead to stronger gains in math, language, and self-regulation compared to more traditional methods (NAEYC, 2022). Bottom line: Playful learning isn’t a distraction from “real” learning—it’s one of the most effective ways to do it.

 

 

Adults Need Play Too

 

If play is good for kids, why do we leave it behind in adulthood?

 

The truth is, adults benefit from play in ways that are just as meaningful. Researchers like Dr. Stuart Brown, founder of the National Institute for Play, have shown that play supports adult wellbeing, helps us build stronger relationships, and unlocks creativity. It can even improve our performance at work by lowering stress and increasing engagement (National Institute for Play).

 

In higher education settings, Professor Lisa Forbes found that adding playful activities to graduate-level courses helped learners feel safer, more connected, and more motivated to take intellectual risks (Forbes, 2021). Imagine what that could mean for our faculty meetings, professional development days, or team retreats.

 

 

What This Means for Schools

 

Whether you’re a third-grade teacher, a division head, or a business office manager, there’s a place for play in your daily work.

 

For Classrooms:

• Build space for imaginative, choice-driven learning—yes, even in middle school.
• Use play as a tool for formative assessment, collaboration, and deep thinking.

 

For Administrative Teams:

• Start meetings with a short game or playful prompt to reset energy and spark creativity.
• Consider hosting a “Play Lab” as part of professional learning—an informal space for staff to experiment with low-stakes, joyful practices.

 

 

Try This: A “Play Inventory”

 

At your next team meeting or check-in, ask: “When was the last time you played at work—and what did it unlock for you?”

 

This simple question can open up deeper conversations about joy, curiosity, and what it means to bring our full selves to school.

 

 

Final Thought

 

Play isn’t just something we do when the work is done. When we understand it deeply, we realize: play is part of the work. It’s how we learn best, how we connect, and how we stay whole.

 

As we begin this school year and build toward our spring conference, let’s give ourselves permission to play—not as a break from learning, but as a powerful way to make learning (and living) richer for everyone in our communities.