Welcome to the Play Science Institute
Welcome. We are thrilled to share our new organization with you! The Play Science Institute is a mission-driven organization committed to sharing the science of play with you!
My name is Denisha Jones, and I founded the Play Science Institute. While working in early childhood teacher education for 20 years, I became a global play scholar and advocate. I created the Play Science Institute because there really is a science to play, but unfortunately, children’s right to child-led play is disappearing from childhood.
As time spent in classrooms and on screens increases, time for child-led free play decreases. But play isn’t some trivial activity to be pushed aside. The science of play teaches us that play is an evolutionary biological necessity that leads development, is how children learn best, and fosters well-being.
So I created the Play Science Institute to share the science of play with early childhood educators, administrators, caregivers, parents, advocates, and legislators. I believe in play. And I believe play is the right of all children.
If you are an early childhood teacher or caregiver and you believe in play, this place is for you!
If you are an early childhood teacher or caregiver, and you want to learn more about play, this place is for you!
If you are an administrator or director of an early childhood program and you want to use the principles of play science to support young children’s development, learning, and well-being, then this place is for you!
If you are a parent and you want to learn more about the principles of play and advocate for child-led free play in your school or center, this place is for you.
If you are a researcher who studies play or wants to study play, this place is for you.
If you don’t believe in play or you think play is a waste of time, this probably isn’t the place for you. Come back when you’re ready to expand your thinking about play.
Our mission is simple: share the science of play with everyone!
Our vision is a world where all children have time, space, and permission to engage deeply in uninterrupted child-led free play. Play is the right of all children, and the principles of play science are known, respected, and used to support the growth and development of all children from birth to 10.
We are so glad you are here, and we look forward to working with you on your journey to understand the science of play! Check out our Services, Principles of Play Science, and our Publications. Also, subscribe to our newsletter to stay alert to all of our events and blogs!
