A recent study by developmental psychologist Jelena Obradović explores the relationship between parental engagement and a kindergarten-aged child’s ability to regulate their emotions. After careful, moment by moment analysis of parents’ behavior, they found that children whose parents allow them to self-direct more often tend to do better on tasks that require them to regulate their emotions and practice impulse control. Conversely, children of parents who often stepped in to redirect – whether by offering instruction, feedback, or questions – tended to fare worse on self-regulation tasks. This is promising news for advocates of free play. The results of this study indicate that allowing children more independence helps them to build the important skills of self-regulation: they will be more emotionally resilient, able to recover from upsets, and have more control over their impulses. The study offers compelling evidence that stepping back and letting children take the lead in their play and work may be crucial in the development of self-regulating skills.

In Baltimore, Maryland, a non-profit called B-360 is combining dirt bike culture and STEM education to create an engaging environment for students who are often overlooked. Dirt bike riding is illegal (though popular) in Baltimore, but B-360 offers young riders a legal place to repair, ride, and learn about their bikes through the lens of STEM education. B-360’s programming is uniquely relevant to their students’ passion, which cultivates excitement for learning in a way that typical education may not. But B-360 is also keeping its students safer. By keeping their students off of city streets, the place they would normally ride, they are protecting students from dangerous traffic accidents as well as arrests. Though dirt-biking is a non-violent offense, an arrest could launch a young person down a cycle of incarceration and poverty. Instead, B-360 offers a legal place to pursue the passion for dirt bikes, learn important STEM skills, and build skills that will benefit chances of future employment.

Pedagogical experts from across disciplines and around the world have come together with Equity Unbound to compile a collection of playful activities to build community in the higher education classroom. Play is often overlooked as students age, but studies reveal that it remains crucial even in higher education. One of its many benefits is the building of a classroom community in which everyone feels welcome and connected, essential for critical discussion and engaged learning. But because play is not often discussed in the world of higher education, many educators are unsure how to incorporate it into their classrooms, especially in the online world. Equity Unbound’s free resources offer activity ideas and inspiration for diverse classroom needs – from introductions, to warmups, to structured discussions. Additionally, they offer guidance on designing a course with community-building in mind. There is even a place to submit one’s own activity to the collection. These resources are a concrete, inspirational way to open educators’ minds towards including playful pedagogy in the college classroom.

For many children, especially those living in urban environments, outdoor play means enjoying a playground made of metal and rubber, or a well-manicured grassy park. But Early Childhood Health Outdoors, or ECHO, is working to change that. The project is a subdivision of the National Wildlife Federation which aims to create, advocate for, and offer guidance surrounding well-designed outdoor spaces focused on nature. Their goal is to strengthen children’s bond with the nature around them by increasing access to high-quality natural spaces. These spaces often incorporate natural materials like stones and wood; sensory elements using plants and earth; and imaginative play spaces with construction materials, themed gardens, and pretend play areas. While these types of spaces are becoming more common, ECHO has the unique goal of reaching low-income communities where they are most needed and least accessible. They design low-cost alternatives to expensive outdoor play structures, and widely share their guidance. They are currently operating in dozens of sites in Colorado, but offer webinars to interested caregivers, educators, and parents worldwide. ECHO is improving access to the outdoors for countless children who may not otherwise have a connection with nature.