Understanding Child Development

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Research finds U.S. children are engaging in less free play than previously.

Play is essential for children's social, emotional, and neurological development.

Researchers suggest parents prioritize various types of play.

When was the last time you saw a child completely absorbed in play—building a block tower, chasing friends through a backyard, or creating imaginary worlds with whatever materials they could find? These moments aren't just charming childhood memories in the making; they’re essential building blocks for healthy development, according to a large body of research.

The evidence on the importance of play is so strong that the American Academy of Pediatrics has issued a prescription for parents: Play with your child every day.

But in an era of packed schedules, screen time, and intense focus on school readiness, many children are playing less than in previous generations. Compared to a generation ago, children are spending significantly more time with technology devices and less time exploring and taking risks—activities that allow children to learn and become independent. There has been a significant decline in play, especially outdoors.

Kim Kopko, director of the Parenting Project: Healthy Children, Families & Communities at Cornell’s Bronfenbrenner Center for Translational Research, has spent years studying how parents think about play and learning. Her research reveals a troubling disconnect between what children need and what they're getting.

"Classic developmental psychologists such as (Jean) Piaget and (Lev) Vygotsky theorized that children learn through play," Kopko said. Yet given the pace of contemporary life and busy parents, particularly in the United States, "play is often sacrificed to flash cards, electronic games, and learning activities with a focus on school readiness."

The neurological benefits of play are substantial. Play builds executive function skills—the creative, curious, and problem-solving areas of the brain that help children self-regulate and control their behavior. It offers children a sense of control, allowing them to explore their interests in an unhurried and relaxed manner. Different types of play, including playing with parents, engage a child's mind and allow space for creativity and discovery.

Perhaps most importantly in our modern world, the evidence shows that play helps children regulate their emotions by making the world feel manageable and secure.

In her research with Cornell Psychology Professor Marianella Casasola, Kopko surveyed parents of children aged 2 to 5 years to understand their beliefs about toys and child learning. The findings revealed a clear distinction in parents' minds between play and school readiness.

Parents who said allowing their child time to play was important also valued: play with a parent, play with other children, puzzles, blocks, reading, arts and crafts, outdoor play, and unguided play. Interestingly, these same parents said that using tablets and watching videos were significantly unimportant for their children's development.

Understanding Child Development

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But when the researchers observed parents playing with their children, most selected a combination of traditional and electronic toys—typically two traditional toys and one electronic toy—even though their survey responses showed much stronger preferences for traditional toys.

The findings suggest there may be a distinction between learning through play and learning through school-readiness activities; parents may show a preference for non-electronic toys when talking about play and electronic toys when engaging their child in what they see as school-readiness activities.

The research revealed another crucial finding: Parents who thought electronic toys weren’t appropriate tended to have children with higher vocabulary scores.

Parents often cite exhaustion and the inability to afford alternatives as reasons for increased screen time. But Kopko emphasizes that there are accessible alternatives: arranging play with other children, outdoor play, and play with simple materials like wooden toys and blocks.

"I advocate for play to be a space where children explore, at their own pace, and where parents understand the importance of incorporating play into children's lives as it is essential for learning and promoting positive child development," she said.

Kopko's research points to four evidence-based strategies for parents:

Understand that children learn through play. This isn't just folk wisdom—it's supported by decades of developmental research showing that play enhances cognitive development, language skills, creativity, and social-emotional growth.

Recognize the difference between learning through play and learning through school-readiness activities. Both have value, but they serve different purposes. Play allows for exploration, imagination, and discovery at the child's own pace.

Create opportunities for various types of play: unstructured free play, outdoor play, play with other children, and play with parents. Parent-child play is particularly valuable as an opportunity to observe and understand nonverbal behavior, participate in serve-and-return exchanges, foster curiosity, develop self-regulation skills, facilitate language development, and encourage imagination.

Be mindful of screen time, particularly for children younger than two years. Parent education and training are key to minimizing or avoiding screen time in the youngest children.

In our achievement-oriented culture, it can be tempting to fill every moment of childhood with structured learning activities designed to give kids an academic edge. But Kopko's research suggests we may be sacrificing something essential in the process.

The take-home message: Play isn't a luxury or a break from learning—it's a fundamental way that children make sense of their world, develop crucial cognitive and social skills, and build resilience against stress. The prescription is simple: Play with your child every day. Let them lead. Give them time, space, and permission to explore, imagine, and discover. Their developing brains—and their future selves—will thank you for it.

© Psychology Today