But the more I thought about it, the more I realized there really is a science of play. There is a vast body of literature that documents the benefits of play. Play science is the collection of evidence we have on how play impacts development, learning, and well-being. We need play science because, in education, play often gets a bad rap. For some, play is a bad word; for others, it is a trivial thing that children do when they are bored or taking a break. Some see play as something that must be guided or led by adults to have any real value or meaning. Others see play as something that has to be controlled during recess, before or after school, or even at a public park.