PLAY ON! – Six Ways to Keep Joy Alive During the School Year

(A research-based guide to keeping play at the heart of the school year)

Backpacks are coming back on, but that doesn't mean play has to disappear. Six simple, research-backed ways to keep curiosity, connection, and joy alive all school year long — for kids and the adults raising them.

As backpacks fill, calendars become busier, and after-school activities begin, it can feel like play is the first thing to disappear. Homework, sports, music lessons, errands, and busy schedules often leave little room for the unstructured moments that help children and adults grow. But play isn’t something we should leave behind with summer. In fact, it’s one of the most powerful ways children build creativity, resilience, executive functioning, problem-solving skills, and meaningful relationships. Adults benefit too, experiencing lower stress, greater optimism, and stronger connections with the people around them.

This school year, the Joyful Learning Collaborative invites you to PLAY ON – making intentional choices that keep curiosity, connection, and joy alive long after the first day of school.

-       P – Play Together

-       L – Look for Wonder

-       A – Allow Adventure

-       Y – Yield Time

-       O – Outside Still Matters

-       N – Nurture Connection

P – Play Together

 Play helps children grow and develop, but playing together benefits the whole family. Positive and playful interactions have been found to improve parent-child relationships, which can bolster social-emotional development for children. Shared play can improve communication skills for children and increase feelings of belonging across family ties. You don’t need hours of free time to build a sense of belonging; even fifteen minutes of intentional play after dinner or before bedtime can make a lasting impact. Try one of these simple ideas this week:

-       Schedule a family game night

-       Play outside together after dinner

-       Let your child choose a game for the whole family

-       Laugh together each day

L – Look for Wonder

One of the greatest gifts we can give children and ourselves is permission to stay curious. During the school year, it’s easy for learning to become focused on assignments, grades, and checking off the next task. Wonder reminds us that learning is about asking questions, exploring new ideas, and discovering something unexpected. Curiosity fuels creativity, critical thinking, and a lifelong love of learning. Whether you’re noticing something unusual on a walk home or asking questions during dinner, moments of wonder help children connect what they’re learning in school to the world around them. One of the best parts? Curiosity is contagious. When adults model asking questions and exploring alongside children, they communicate that learning doesn’t end when the school bell rings. Curiosity grows through small moments. Here are a few places to start:

-       Visit a new walking trail together

-       Ask “I wonder” questions about a new hobby

-       Look for something new on your walk or drive home

-       Read about a topic your child is curious about

A – Allow Adventure

While families might have planned activities, play should also incorporate a level of adventure. Providing opportunities for appropriate risks, such as climbing trees or learning a new skill, can encourage confidence and resilience for children and adults alike! Manageable risk during playtime activities help children develop judgment, perseverance, and self-confidence. Adults also benefit from new and adventurous recreational activities, as this can increase confidence and optimism. Adventure doesn’t have to be big to make a lasting impact. Consider trying one of these ideas:

-       Explore a new park or local destination you’ve never visited

-       Learn a new hobby

-       Give kids opportunities to solve small challenges independently

-       Say “yes” to a new experience together as a family

Y – Yield Time

When every afternoon is scheduled, there is little room for imagination or spontaneous play. Children and adults benefit from moments when nothing is planned, and creativity has space to grow. Not every activity on your list needs to teach a skill, improve performance, or produce something. Sometimes the greatest value in time for play is simply the joy that it brings. When children and adults engage in play purely for enjoyment, they experience increased intrinsic motivation, reduced stress, and greater mental well-being (see The Power of Play; How Fun & Games Help Children Thrive). Protecting unstructured time can be easier than you think:

-       Let boredom spark creativity

-       Resist filling every open hour in the evenings

-       Leave one afternoon free to enjoy unstructured time

-       Laugh often

O – Outside Still Matters

As routines return indoors this fall, don’t forget the benefits of spending time outside. Whether it’s exploring a new park, eating dinner on the porch, or wandering through the neighborhood, time outdoors gives everyone a chance to slow down, move, and reconnect. Research shows these experiences also support children’s physical and emotional well-being. Less sedentary behavior and higher levels of physical activity have been associated with better sleep, enhanced mental well-being, and improved motor skill development. Think outside time is just for the kids? Think again! Adults benefit from time outside too, experiencing lower stress levels, improved mood, and greater overall life satisfaction after spending time outdoors. Sometimes just twenty minutes outdoors can change the tone of an entire evening. Fresh air and movement don’t require elaborate plans. Start here:

-       Visit a new park as a family

-       Go on a nature scavenger hunt around your neighborhood

-       Start a garden together

-       Make it a picnic and take your dinner outside

N – Nurture Connection (Not Screens)

Screens are not inherently bad, but they often do replace opportunities for movement, imagination, and social interaction. Even small reductions in screen time activities create more opportunities for active play and meaningful conversations. The American Academy of Pediatrics encourages balancing media time with active, imaginative play. Replacing screen time with family interactions through having device-free family routines like shared meals and conversations leads to improved communication, stronger family relationships, and better social-emotional outcomes for children. Creating intentional screen-free moments gives families opportunities to reconnect after busy days and helps children balance digital learning with real-world play. Small changes in your family’s routine can make a meaningful difference:

-       Put phones away for family conversations

-       Spend one hour outside before you turn on electronics in the evening

-       Keep phones tucked away during family time

-       Keep your mealtimes device-free

Why PLAY ON this school year?

            At the Joyful Learning Collaborative, we believe joyful learning extends far beyond the classroom. Curiosity, connection, creativity, and belonging grow through everyday moments at home, in neighborhoods, and throughout our communities. As routines settle into place this school year, remember that play isn’t a break from learning, but one of the ways that learning happens. Every game played, question asked, walk taken, and laugh shared helps build resilient, confident, and joyful learners. This school year, choose to PLAY ON!