The Science of Play: One Parent’s Journey

I attended the CCPPNS Convention on March 7-8, 2026. As a first-time participant, I was blown away by the number of participants who came together, all sharing the belief that PLAY is essential for the healthy development of children. It was very reassuring and interesting to see that what I experience with the teachers and children at school on a daily basis was supported by research-backed evidence, showing how important PLAY is for children to learn and develop as healthy individuals.

I also had the pleasure of presenting a research project alongside our teachers and another parent to the entire CCPPNS community. Our session was titled “‘Wat’cha Doing?’ A Teacher-Parent Partnership Exploring the Impact of Adults Entering Children’s Play,” and we were very excited to have so many people attend. We discussed our logistical and methodological learnings from running a year-long research project, as well as our insights from a practical perspective—particularly how we as adults can interact with children when we enter their play. As an example, if a child playing with toy animals were to say, “Look at my zoo!” a supportive response would be to enter their world and ask, “Where is the hippo living?” versus something like, “Have you been to the zoo before?” because it would take them out of their world of play. I found myself reflecting on my own tendencies—I would have asked a similar question, feeling like I was simply finding ways to connect, but I learned that that may not always support their play in the best way.

Another one of my biggest takeaways was that in order to give our children the opportunity to experience free, uninterrupted play, we as adults need to provide them with the tools and resources to do so. At FPNS, we offer plenty of materials like cardboard boxes, tape, leaves and other objects found in nature, paint, and items without a defined purpose, allowing children to explore their imagination and guide their own outcomes. Since the conference, I have been inspired to have these tools readily available for my own children at home to bring out during unstructured playtime.

At the end of the day, I’m always learning how to be a better parent, and the conference was an amazing opportunity to step back from the day-to-day, learn about the research that is out there, and recognize that the “little things” you do for your children today are what add up to the big things later in their lives. Having the conviction that what I am doing is supported by research-backed evidence makes me feel confident that I am doing something positive for them. I hope that everyone in our community has a chance to attend the conference, to not just FEEL that what we are doing at FPNS is good for our kids, but also KNOW that it’s grounded in decades of research. Let our kids PLAY!

— Tomomi, FPNS Parent & Board President