We mistakenly think the goal of Early Childhood programs is learning. The goal is engagement. If young children are engaged, they are learning. Let them play.
– Richard Cohen

“The Child’s Right to Play” is the title of a white paper recently released by the USA Affiliate of the International Play Association, in commemoration of its 50th Anniversary. It contains articles from 59 esteemed authors, including Miriam Beloglovsky, Heather Bernt-Santy, Issac Castillo, Stephanie Goloway, Rachel Larimore, Kisa Marx, and Joseph Yaure, to name just a few.

Here’s an excerpt from the letter that opens the white paper, written by Deb Lawrence, President, IPA USA:

“The child’s right to play has reached a tipping point. Protecting childhood has been replaced with catching children up or getting them ready for a future grade level. The current focus on readiness ignores the extensive research and theories that have supported play for centuries. Instead, in an effort to accelerate development, current trends ignore 100 years of seminal research on developmental milestones and the dispositions learned through play that build the prerequisites for all future learning…

Childhood is no longer the sanctuary it once was, and child-led play is no longer recognized as the cornerstone of healthy growth. Instead, play is often viewed as a mere respite from learning rather than the biological necessity it truly is, on par with food, shelter, and safety.”

She explains that the white paper “serves as a comprehensive repository of research on the benefits of play and equips you with the tools for advocacy…presents a synthesis of the authors’ research, offers specific strategies for promoting the child’s right to play, and provides the evidence you need to bolster your efforts to safeguard childhood.”