Recreation centers sat empty, unused. Playgrounds no longer rang with the sounds of children laughing. Sport complexes lay dormant, the grass untouched. Family museums and concert halls closed their doors. Places associated with joy and learning became places to avoid in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. And play—like so many other parts of our lives—was disrupted.

But despite these challenges, play persisted in 2020. It found new ways to engage and new platforms. At times, it even harkened back to the past. Monopoly sets graced the kitchen table again when family game nights returned. Sidewalk chalk danced across driveways at a feverish pace. Friends gathered on Zoom or FaceTime for trivia nights. Museums and play centers welcomed guests virtually.