As a longtime educator, I’ve witnessed firsthand the incredible benefits that play can have in a K–8 classroom. Unstructured play is how students learn to interact with the world around them. It’s what allows them to master social skills and shapes their communication, cooperation, and responsible decision-making abilities.
A quick Google search on the topic will confirm that play is a primary vehicle for learning, so naturally, teachers should make a point to include plenty of it in their weekly lesson plans. Unfortunately, this isn’t always the case. It’s all too easy for modern education to become locked into rigid policies and learning models.
