Play at school

The science shows, children learn essential skills through play. Sadly not many schools have integrated play into their teaching. In this space we want to provide a starting point for teachers and school leaders interested to change this by sharing case examples, research and opinions. It's a growing collection, so please come back for more.

Why children should play throughout the school day

Learning through play is powerful. We’ve seen the evidence that children thrive on play, developing lifelong skills and boosting their achievements in the classroom.

But teachers need support and training to make the shift from traditional ways of teaching to a full adoption of playful learning. We've gathered evidence, tangible implementation examples and much more for you as a good point to start.

Why Play?

Dive into tangible examples of play in the classroom

The Pedagogy of Play Book from Project Zero

In 2015, the Pedagogy of Play (PoP) research project at Project Zero at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, began investigating the nature of playful learning in schools. Funded by The LEGO Foundation, the project focuses on three core questions: Why do educators need a pedagogy of play? What does playful learning look and feel like in classrooms and schools? How do educators set up the conditions where playful learning thrives?

The answers to these questions can be found a new book, A Pedagogy of Play: Supporting playful learning in classrooms and schools! You can access a free PDF of the book, or you can purchase a physical copy of the book via the Lulu website.

Join one of our courses

We've created a number of courses for parents and teachers to learn more about playful learning and get tangible tips and tricks. All of our courses are free!

Explore our courses

What our research tells us about play at school

How can reading be more playful?

Play is a powerful tool for children's language development. Here's why playful reading is so important.

In the classroom, Future skills

Learning through play: what the science says

Do you know that play builds brains? We look at research that shows how playful learning experiences lay the foundations for brain development and develops 21st century skills

In the classroom, At home, Future skills

The relationship between learning through play and holistic skills

Learning through play helps children develop the skills they need to thrive. And we’ve got an ever-growing body of evidence to illustrate it. Take a look.

Future skills, In the classroom

Positive play in a digital age