Why Play Matters

The Constructive Play Point of View

What is "Constructive Play" and Why Is It Important?
The following point of view on constructive play was developed collaboratively from the input of parents along with several leading researchers, practitioners, and toy industry professionals. "If your homework is done you can go out and play!" For most of us born prior to 1970, this is a familiar phrase that probably triggers warm childhood memories.

With our schoolwork and household chores completed, we were free to explore the world outdoors with our friends go on an imaginary mountain climbing expedition over a terrain of old tables and chairs in the basement or serve pretend tea and cookies to our favorite dolls and stuffed animals. In other words, those of us over 30 years old were raised in an era when play was fairly wholesome and accessible. While some of us may have played "cops and robbers" or shot at tin cans with BB guns, the majority of our playtime could probably have been characterized as "constructive" -- creative, imaginative and non-violent.

Today, however, urging a child to "go play" is a more complicated proposition.