The Play Crisis: Why Unstructured Play Is Essential for a Generation’s Future
As parents and caregivers, we all want the best for our children. Over the last few years, the pressures of modern life—especially during the pandemic—have made balancing their needs with our own responsibilities more challenging than ever. For many families, screen time became an essential tool to keep kids entertained, calm, and connected. This is completely understandable, especially when the world felt so out of control.
But as we continue to find balance and move forward, it’s worth taking a moment to explore what the research says about unstructured play and why it’s so critical for our children’s development. During the Covid-19 pandemic, many children spent more time on screens than ever before. Virtual learning was a lifeline, ensuring that kids could continue their education when in-person schooling wasn’t possible. However, screen-based learning also revealed some unintended consequences.
As physicist and writer Ursula Franklin reminds us, “It may be wise, when communities are faced with new technological solutions to existing problems, to ask what these techniques may prevent and not only to check what the techniques promise to do.”
What virtual learning lacked, especially for young children, was the opportunity for unstructured, physical play—something we know to be both educationally and psychologically beneficial. Play is more than just fun; it’s a way for children to explore their world, build resilience, and develop essential cognitive and emotional skills.
Kathy Hirsh-Pasek, a psychologist and author of Einstein Never Used Flashcards, describes the lack of play as a “crisis akin to global warming.” That’s a big statement, but research supports it. According to the Chronicle of Higher Education, children who don’t engage in enough play may struggle with executive function, which includes skills like self-control, focus, and working memory. Play also helps children learn to navigate social situations, build problem-solving skills, and even regulate their emotions. Without enough opportunities to play, we may inadvertently be raising a generation with shorter attention spans, weaker memory skills, and fewer tools to manage stress. None of us want this for our children. We are doing the best we can.
Studies published in respected journals like Science highlight the measurable benefits of play-based learning. Preschoolers who were taught using play-based techniques not only had more fun but also demonstrated better outcomes in areas like language, reasoning, and social development compared to their peers who followed more traditional teaching methods.
These findings remind us that play is not just a break from learning—it is learning.
It’s not uncommon for us, as parents, to feel overwhelmed by the sheer number of things we’re told we should be doing. Screens can be a lifeline on hard days, offering a much-needed break when life feels overwhelming. It’s important to be gentle with ourselves about this.
That said, finding ways to reintroduce unstructured play—where kids can move, create, and imagine freely—can help fill in the gaps that screen time and structured activities leave behind. Whether it’s a walk in the park, a dance party in the living room, or a few minutes of independent play with blocks, these moments are small but powerful investments in our children’s future.
Ideas to Reclaim Play
If you’re wondering where to start, here are a few simple, low-pressure ideas for fostering unstructured play:
Head Outside: Nature offers endless opportunities for play. A stick can become a wand, a rock can be a treasure, and a patch of grass can be a stage for performers. Older kids need outside time even more than toddlers in this day and age. They need a break from the monotony and addictiveness of social media.
Make Time for Movement: Simple activities like jumping, running, or even rolling around on the floor can give kids the physical release they need. Dance parties also count!
Rotate Toys: Too many options can be overwhelming. Rotating toys in and out of playtime can make old toys feel new again. Keep a basket of toys in your outdoor space (if you have one) that can take some rough and tumble play.
Play Together: Even just a few minutes of joining in on their play can spark joy and connection. Follow their lead and let them guide the adventure.
Leave Room for Boredom: It can feel uncomfortable at first, but boredom is often the spark for creativity. Give kids time and space to come up with their own ideas.
Weekly or Monthly Field Trips: Plan a weekly, or monthly, field trip - as your schedule and budget allows. Commit to a tech-free experience, outdoors as much as possible. These will be moments that you and your children will grow to look forward to and cherish for a lifetime. Create the space in your schedules and watch how much you look forward to these unstructured, non-tech days out.
As we move forward, let’s continue to be kind to ourselves. Parenting is a juggling act, and we all do our best with the tools we have. At the same time, let’s keep the conversation open about the role of play in our children’s lives and the ways we can support their development—even in small, manageable ways.
Unstructured play isn’t about perfection or adding another item to your to-do list. It’s about creating opportunities for kids to explore, imagine, and grow in ways that feel natural to them. It doesn’t hurt us either, to release the reins a bit, and enjoy watching the children experience freedom.
